Corbyn ally tells activists pushing for deselections to focus on ‘real enemy’

Senior Labour figures from across the party have rejected calls from activists for MPS who have questioned Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership to be deselected.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, an ally of Mr Corbyn, urged anyone talking about deselection of Labour MPS to think about “who are the real enemy”.

She was joined by backbencher Jess Phillips, a prominent critic of the party’s leader, who said Mr Corbyn’s grassroots supporters “do not have a right to threaten” MPS’ jobs.

The comments come after the Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger was warned by activists in her constituency that she could face deselection if she questions the direction of the party under Mr Corbyn.

Reports yesterday said some 0 Jeremy Corbyn’s backers have talked of deselection backbench critics of the Labour leader could resign and force byelections to avoid being sacked by their local parties. Labour conference in September is likely to see a new battle over control of the party, with Mr Corbyn’s allies callingforgrassrootsmembers to be given more power over the selection process.

Ms Rayner told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “Luciana has done a tremendous amount of work, she’s an absolute valued member of the team. Anyone that talks of deselecting any of my colleagues, quite frankly they need to think about actually who are the real enemy here.”

Yesterday saw further calls for unity, with shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams saying: “We have a very talented group of MPS including some that have been there for a while and including those that have just come on board.

“We all need to work together and to deliver.”

And former minister Caroline Flint said talk of deselection was “misplaced and doesn’t help Labour”. She told BBC’S Sunday Politics: “I think it’s very sad that talk of deselection is a direction that some people in our party seek to take us. I don’t think it helps Jeremy, I don’t think it helps the Labour Party.”