He’s a disaster
The cleverest man on the planet gives his verdict on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn..
PROFESSOR Stephen Hawking has called on Jeremy Corbyn to stand down as Labour leader, branding him a “disaster” for the party.
The physicist, who is a Labour supporter, said he would vote for Corbyn and that he approves of many of his policies – but believes he should quit “for the sake of the party”.
The Cambridge University academic, considered by many to be the smartest person alive, said in a newspaper interview: “I regard Corbyn as a disaster.
“His heart is in the right place and many of his policies are sound but he has allowed himself to be portrayed as a left-wing extremist.
“I think he should step down for the sake of the party.”
Hawking backed Cambridge’s Labour MP Daniel Zeichner at the general election in 2015 and was pictured with him on a campaign leaflet.
At the time, Zeichner said: “I think he fully appreciates the huge investment that the last Labour government made in science and you can see that in a lot of the buildings and laboratories around Cambridge.”
Shadow transport minister Zeichner didn’t respond yesterday when he was asked to comment on Hawking’s criticism of Corbyn.
The acclaimed physicist’s intervention is the latest sign of unease within Labour ranks after John McDonnell suggested a “soft coup” was being mounted against the party leader.
The Shadow Chancellor tried to smooth over divisions at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night.
McDonnell, who is a key ally of Corbyn, made a fresh plea for unity, which he said was “what the Tories fear most” ahead of today’s Budget.
But Labour MPs Wes Streeting and Peter Kyle raised concerns with the Shadow Chancellor, apparently referring to his “soft coup” claims.
One Labour MP present at the meeting said McDonnell did not apologise for claiming last week that elements in the party, in alliance with the “Murdoch media”, were intent on “destroying” Corbyn.
But the Shadow Chancellor’s spokesman said: “His element of contrition was about not just that, but over the past, from the summer when he chaired Jeremy’s campaign, and also since then.
“It was about putting most importantly and front and centre that the Labour Party are united on this front (the Budget).”