Corbyn accused of plan to purge rivals
Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of planning a purge of his Labour Party opponents after warning rebel MPS that they could be ousted as candidates before the next general election.
The Labour leader said there would be ‘‘a full selection process in every constituency’’ as a result of the plan to reduce the number of MPS in the Commons. It was immediately interpreted by dissident MPS as a threat to remove them.
Angela Eagle, who this week withdrew her leadership challenge against Corbyn, revealed yesterday that she had stopped holding public surgeries for constituents after police advice. She has received threats and abuse.
Corbyn’s remarks came at the launch of his re-election campaign, following a challenge by Owen Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary. The Labour leader said he wanted to offer the ‘‘hand of friendship’’ to the 172 MPS who supported a noconfidence vote against him, but added that all Labour MPS would face re-selection when new constituency boundaries came into force in 2018, reducing the number of MPS from 650 to 600.
‘‘The sitting MP for any part or any substantial part of the new boundary would have the opportunity to put their name forward so there will be a full and open selection process for every constituency Labour Party in the UK,’’ he said.
He reminded MPS that Labour and trade union branches had the right to demand a ‘‘trigger ballot’’, which could offer them the chance to select a different candidate. It is a clear shift in tone for the Labour leader. Last year, he attempted to reassure MPS that he did not back mandatory re-selection.
Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North, said: ‘‘It tells you everything you need to know that at the heart of Jeremy Corbyn’s thoroughly uninspiring campaign launch his big announcement was a recipe for further division and introspection.’’
Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland and a leading critic of the leader, said: ‘‘Corbyn has always wanted to purge the parliamentary Labour Party of those who disagree with him. We’re watching a parasite kill its host, that’s why we so urgently need Owen Smith to replace Jeremy Corbyn.’’
A spokesman for Corbyn said his comments had not been designed as a threat. The leader was simply explaining the process by which Labour MPS will be chosen for the next election.
Corbyn risked angering MPS by saying that immigration barriers should not be introduced as part of any Brexit trade deal. He also said that he would reject Smith’s offer of becoming Labour president should the challenger win the leadership contest.
Corbyn and a key ally, the shadow health secretary Diane Abbott, have criticised Smith’s past as a lobbyist for pharmaceuticals company Pfizer. ‘‘I don’t believe someone who’s been a special adviser and a pharmaceutical lobbyist is going to enthuse the base,’’ Abbott said.