My bit’ – McDonnell to quit frontline politics

time for the party to “move on” under new leadership.

“We will all go now. The new leader will come in place and appoint a shadow cabinet. I won’t be part of the shadow cabinet. I’ve done my bit. We need to move on at that stage with that new leader,” he told reporters

A senior source close to Mr McDonnell, who has been shadow chancellor since 2015, said: “John will stay in place until a new leader and new place.”

It comes as Mr Corbyn has indicated he will quit as Labour leader in the early part of next year, despite facing calls to quit immediately after his party’s poor election showing.

The election saw Labour swept aside by the Conservatives in its heartlands in the Midlands, north Wales and north-eastern England, with Jeremy Corbyn’s party securing frontbench team is in the fewest number of seats since 1935. Some traditional Labour constituencies, such as Darlington in the north of England, now have a Conservative MP for the first time in decades – in the case of Bishop Auckland, for the first time since the seat was created.

Mr McDonnell, who retained the Hayes and Harlington seat he has held since 1997 in Thursday’s election, added that Mr Corbyn had been

“demonised by a smear campaign against him” by the media.

Asked if Mr Corbyn was the reason for the party’s defeat, he added: “I think there is an issue to be discussed about how the use of the social media - but also the overall media - has turned someone who I think is one of the most principled, honest, sincere, committed anti-racist politicians demonised by a smear campaign against him.”