Now ‘tired’ Corbyn gets treated for eye problem
IT WAS only last week that Jeremy Corbyn was said to be planning to resign as Labour leader because he is ‘tired and fed up’.
Now it has emerged that he is being treated at Britain’s leading eye hospital for an ongoing condition.
A Labour Party spokesman said: ‘Jeremy has a muscle weakness in his right eye, which has become apparent in recent months.
‘He is being treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital [in central London] and thanks the wonderful staff for their care and expertise.
‘He has been using corrective glasses as part of the treatment. He is otherwise in good health, is on the campaign trail every week travnell
‘He is ready to step down’
elling the country, and runs and cycles regularly.’
The admission follows renewed rumours about Mr Corbyn’s health. Last week he was forced to deny claims that he has told allies he is planning to resign as leader because he is ‘tired and fed up’.
Mr Corbyn will be 70 in May, and if he decides to cling on until the next scheduled election in 2022, he would be the oldest candidate to be prime minister at first appointment ever. The oldest person to become prime minister for the first time is Lord Palmerston, who took office aged 70 in 1855.
If Mr Corbyn does quit, it would provoke a fractious leadership contest between the hard-Left and moderate wings of his party.
It has been suggested that Shadow Chancellor John McDon- – himself aged 67 – could stand to keep the hard-Left flame alive. He could be opposed by Tom Watson, the deputy leader, from the moderate wing. Mr Watson, who is 52, has set up a social democratic group for Labour MPs, seen as a rival power base to the Corbynites.
A source close to Mr Watson was quoted earlier this month saying: ‘Jeremy’s essentially finished. It is only a matter of time before either he realises it or it is made clear that for the sake of the party, he must step aside.’
Other possible leadership candidates include Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, and Angela Rayner, Labour’s education spokesman. Sources said last week that some of those around Mr Corbyn believe he would like to pass on the reins of power. One Shadow Cabinet member said: ‘He’s tired and fed up.’ Another said: ‘Corbyn is ready to step down. He wants to step down.’
His spokesman described leadership speculation as ‘complete and utter nonsense’.