BLOODBATH FEAR:
Labour could lose 25% of MPs But defiant leader blasts back
LABOUR has been warned it might lose around 58 seats at the election – a massive slump of 25%.
A leading pollster left backbenchers ashenfaced after telling them that all the party’s MPs with majorities of fewer than 5,000 votes will be at serious risk.
But polling firms have had a run of being proved wrong, including at the 2015 election when they predicted a hung parliament.
And in a defiant first campaign speech Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will insist today that he can win, and will then destroy the “rigged system” allowing the rich and powerful to run amok.
Labour’s number of MPs would drop from 229 to around 170 if the polling firm’s grim scenario becomes reality.
It would be the party’s worst showing since before the Second World War.
A Labour MP said: “It looks like we’re going to lose a lot of talented people.”
Some insiders are worried of an even worse collapse. One MP said: “I’ve spoken to colleagues with 7,000 or 8,000 majorities who
are convinced they are going to lose. could mean we lose 70 seats or more – a disaster.” The pollster’s projections, revealed in a private meeting, were based on recent opinion polls which suggest Labour trails the Tories by 21 percentage points.
Shadow Cabinet member Cat Smith, who has a majority of 1,265 in Lancaster and Fleetwood, would be among the senior MPs at serious risk. Prominent backbenchers under threat include Labour’s only Scottish MP Ian
Murray, former leadership hopeful Mary Creagh and outspoken Jess Phillips.
A Shadow Cabinet source said: “I think anyone under 10,000 is on the front line.
“There will be some under 5,000 who are fine – and some on 6,000 or 7,000 who could be in trouble.” Yesterday a succession of Labour MPs on the potential hit-list announced they are stepping down.
It included Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool where UKIP fancies its chances. Labour MPs have until 6pm today to make their decision.
Former big hitters who had been rumoured of returning, such as Ed Balls and David Miliband, are understood not to be prepared to stand.
In his election launch speech in Central London this morning, Mr Corbyn will say: “Much of the media and Establishment are saying this election is a foregone conclusion. They think there are rules in politics, which if you don’t follow by doffing your cap to powerful people... then you can’t win.
“A Labour government elected on June 8 won’t play by their rules. These rules have created a cosy cartel which rigs the system in favour of a few powerful and wealthy individuals and corporations. We will overturn this rigged system.” A source on his campaign team said: “Of course we’ve got a fighting chance.”
Mr Corbyn ruled out a coalition deal with the SNP, while Lib Dem grandee Sir Vince Cable rejected calls for his party to form an alliance with Labour and the Greens.