Corbyn ‘trying to rig’ election by opposing seat changes

A TORY minister last night accused Jeremy Corbyn of trying to rig the next election by opposing reforms to make constituencies more even.

Chris Skidmore, minister for the constitution, said existing boundaries are ‘an affront to democracy’ as many seats have disproportionately large numbers of voters. The plans would see the total number of MPs cut from 650 to 600.

Labour has said the reforms would adversely affect the party and has vowed to oppose them.

Mr Skidmore accused Mr Corbyn of ‘political opportunism’. Writing in the Daily Telegraph he said Labour was seeking to ‘disenfranchise’ people in seats with large numbers registered to vote.

Mr Corbyn’s Islington North seat is one of those due to be abolished, meaning he would have to seek election elsewhere.

Yesterday the Labour leader failed to rule out a second EU referendum if he becomes prime minister. He said his party is ‘not advocating’ another vote but will not take the option off the table.

It comes after a group of 70 Labour councillors wrote to Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer asking him to commit to providing

Jeremy Corbyn: Against the reforms a chance for ‘people to change their mind’. Mr Corbyn insisted Labour’s Brexit stance was not ‘confusing’, despite the party repeatedly switching its position.

Asked about his deputy Tom Watson, who said a second poll should not be ruled out, Mr Corbyn told The I newspaper: ‘He did say that but our position is we are not advocating a second referendum.’

PROVING once again that his party’s position on Brexit is as changeable as the weather, Jeremy Corbyn refuses to rule out holding a second referendum. Two weeks ago his shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, did exactly that.

Heaven only knows what the rest of his front bench think. And don’t bother to ask where Labour stands on the single market, customs union or indeed free movement of migrants. You won’t get a straight answer.

So it’s no wonder the party’s supporters are confused. A YouGov survey shows Labour Remain voters are convinced the party is ‘completely against Brexit’ while Labour Leave voters think the reverse.

For too long, the Opposition has been allowed to get away with this cynical flipflopping to conceal its gaping divisions on the most crucial issue facing this country. In 2018, the Tories should resolve to expose two-faced Mr Corbyn’s Brexit deceit.