Pick anyone but Corbyn!

Alastair Campbell’s desperate plea to prevent ‘car crash’ for Labour

A JEREMY Corbyn rally sold out within hours yesterday as he prepares to campaign in Scotland. More than 700 people bought tickets for the event in Glasgow on Friday. Organisers were forced to move the rally from Oran Mor to the Old Fruitmarket after running out of space. But the extra capacity also sold out.

Left-wing Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who is running Mr Corbyn’s campaign north of the Border, said: ‘This week will give people across Scotland the opportunity to speak to Jeremy Corbyn and hear his message of hope and ambition for the future.’

ALASTAIR Campbell has urged Labour supporters to back anyone but Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership, warning that the Leftwinger would be a ‘ car crash’ for the party.

Tony Blair’s former spin chief said a victory for Mr Corbyn would mean that Labour had given up on winning office, because the veteran MP would never appeal to voters who are not ‘hard Left’.

Mr Campbell, who recently pledged that he would not intervene in the contest, said he had decided to speak out against Mr Corbyn because Labour ‘could be finished if he wins’.

The MP for Islington North is now seen as the front-runner, ahead of shadow ministers Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper, and ‘Blairite’ Liz Kendall.

Tens of thousands of supporters have signed up to vote in the contest since the General Election, many of whom back Mr Corbyn’s old-style socialist policies, including bringing utilities back into public ownership.

But Mr Corbyn has attracted criticism for describing the leaders of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah as his ‘friends’.

He was embroiled in a new controversy yesterday as it emerged he had defended Anglican vicar Stephen Sizer, who was disciplined by the church for posting a Facebook link to an article suggesting Israel was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

It emerged Mr Corbyn wrote a letter during the furore earlier this year, defending Reverend Sizer and claiming he was ‘under attack’ because he had ‘dared to speak out against Zionism’.

Mr Campbell argued in an article on his website yesterday that those who saw Mr Corbyn as ‘a cross between Russell Brand, Nicola Sturgeon and their favourite uncle’ had to think again.

He added: ‘ The two main parties, when choosing a leader, are picking the person they intend thereafter to try to persuade the people of the UK “this is who should be your Prime Minister”.

‘And yet the Labour Party, if it elects Jeremy Corbyn as leader, is selecting someone that every piece of political intelligence, experience and analysis tells you will never be elected Prime Minister.’

He said those backing Mr Corbyn were only helping the Conservatives to remain in office.

Mr Campbell added: ‘ That means no first preferences, no second preferences, no any preferences. It frankly means ABC, Anyone But Corbyn.’

Mr Campbell said he was aware that criticism from him and from Mr Blair – who warned those whose hearts told them to vote for Mr Corbyn to ‘get a transplant’ – could be counterproductive.

But he said he felt compelled to tell supporters that they were heading for ‘a car crash, and more’.

In a blunt message to Mr Corbyn’s rivals, Mr Campbell said they ‘need to show now that they understand they are in a fight not just to be Labour leader, but to save the party’.

The number of people eligible to vote in the Labour leadership contest is understood to have almost doubled since the election from 200,000 to 390,000, thanks to new members and trade union members. And 50,000 people have paid £3 to be ‘registered supporters’ to cast a vote.

New members have until tomorrow evening to sign up.