Is ‘tired’ Corbyn ready to quit as Labour leader now he nears 70?
JEREMY Corbyn would like to step down as Labour leader because he is tired and fed up, it was claimed yesterday.
Senior members of the Shadow Cabinet said they understood he could even be ready to quit.
However a spokesman for MrCorbyn said the rumours were ‘complete and utter nonsense’.
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 PM at first appointment so far is Lord Palmerston, who took office In 1855 at the age of 70. The oldest premier to leave office was William Gladstone, who was 84 when he retired.
If Mr Corbyn does go it would provoke a fractious leadership contest between the hard-Left and moderate wings of the party.
It has been suggested that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who is 67, could stand to keep the hard Left flame alive.
He could be opposed by Tom Watson, the Labour deputy leader from the moderate wing of the party. Mr Watson, 52, has set up a new social democratic group for Labour MPs – seen as a rival power base to the Corbynites.
Sources told the London Evening Standard some of those around the leader think Mr Corbyn would like to pass on the reins of power.
One member of the Shadow Cabinet said: ‘He’s tired and fed up.’ Another said: ‘Corbyn is ready to step down. He wants to step down.’
Although a fit cyclist, teetotal vegetarian and allotment gardener, Mr Corbyn has been reported to resort to naps to get through long working days.