Labour ‘a government in waiting’ says Corbyn

THERESA MAY’S premiership has no mandate and no legitimacy, Jeremy Corbyn told Labour’s MPs as he declared: “We are now a government in waiting”.

The Leader of the Opposition was greeted with cheers and a 45-second ovation as he arrived at the first meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party since the election which saw Mrs May’s Tories lose their Commons majority.

The scenes were in marked contrast to the difficult meetings Mr Corbyn had with his critics in the parliamentary party before the election.

He said Labour would remain on a general election footing due to the instability of the minority Tory government.

Mr Corbyn told the MPs and peers: “Last Thursday, we turned the tables on Theresa May’s gamble and gained seats in every region and nation of Britain and I’m particularly delighted that we have increased our representation in Scotland.

“We increased the Labour vote by the largest margin in any election since 1945 and gained seats as a party for the first time since 1997.

“So now the election is over, the next phase of our campaign to win power for the majority has already begun. We must remain in permanent campaign mode on a general election footing... We will continue to take the fight to the Tories and I will be out campaigning around the country.

“Theresa May has no mandate and no legitimacy for policies that do not have the support of the majority of the British people.

“We are now a government in waiting and we must think and act at all times with that in mind.”