Milne ‘next on list’ as Mcdonnell accused of Soviet-style purge

Shadow chancellor’s ‘power grab’ takes aim at Corbyn’s closest aide in dispute over Brexit stance

JEREMY CORBYN’S closest aide has been warned he is next “on the list” to be forced out, amid claims John Mcdonnell is engaged in a “Soviet-style” purge of the Labour leader’s office.

Labour insiders have told The Daily Telegraph that calls are increasing for Seumas Milne, the former Guardian journalist, to be removed as Mr Corbyn’s director of communications.

The warning was issued as it emerged that more than 30 members of Mr Corbyn’s staff have been asked to attend meetings as part of a review into the office’s “management structures”.

The review, led by Lord Kerslake, a long-term ally of Mr Mcdonnell, has led to accusations that the shadow chancellor is attempting to push out key aides in an alleged “power grab”.

The controversy was seized upon yesterday by Boris Johnson, who likened Mr Mcdonnell to Vladimir Lenin and his clashes with Leon Trotsky in the run-up to the Russian Revolution.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: “We can all see the Soviet-era expulsions that are taking place in his [Mr Corbyn’s] circle, as one by one his lieutenants are purged as Lenin purged the associates of poor old Trotsky.” Pointing to Mr Mcdonnell, he added: “There is Lenin … as the shadow chancellor tightens his icy grip on the Labour Party, the contrast becomes clearer.”

It comes days after Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s chief of staff, was moved to the party headquarters following clashes over management and strategy.

Lord Kerslake, the former Civil Service head, has been advising Mr Corbyn on preparing for government and is understood to have played a significant role in Ms Murphy’s move. While Mr Mcdonnell is one of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies, in recent months he is said to have grown frustrated with Ms Murphy and Mr Milne, who have been accused of blocking attempts to turn Labour into a pro-remain party.

He was also angered by the decision of Andrew Fisher, Mr Corbyn’s policy guru, to quit after a series of disagreements with leader’s office colleagues.

Last night a Labour source said: “The second target in all of this is Seumas. He is probably second on the list.

“Everyone knows that the politics within the leader’s office is Karie and Seumas versus basically everybody else.”

A prominent Labour figure said: “Seumas is definitely on the list. The question is whether Corbyn fights for him.”

However, a shadow cabinet minister loyal to Mr Corbyn hit out at Mr Mcdonnell, accusing him of attempting to tighten his grip on the party behind closed doors, adding: “There has been a lot of criticism of LOTO [Leader of the Opposition’s Office] for the past six or nine months. People believe it’s coming from the direction of Mcdonnell.”

Mr Mcdonnell is also understood to have clashed with Len Mccluskey, the Unite leader, last week as they discussed the changes to the senior team. One insider described the meeting as “explosive”, telling the website Politics Home: “The pair of them erupted.”

Hitting back last night, an ally of Mr Milne told The Telegraph: “Jeremy and Seumas are closely politically aligned. That’s why some people want to get rid of him and why they won’t be successful.”