Mcdonnell denies plot to oust Corbyn over anti-semitism row
JOHN Mcdonnell has denied reports that he is plotting to oust Jeremy Corbyn amid an ongoing row over his handling of Labour’s anti-semitism crisis, insisting the pair are inseparable.
The shadow chancellor last night hit back at claims that his allies have been sounding out shadow cabinet members and trade union figures about the possibility of replacing the Labour leader, describing them as “laughable”.
Pledging his loyalty to his long-term ally, Mr Mcdonnell said that the pair had “for 40 years… been as one and always will be”, adding, “get used to solidarity in action”.
His rebuttal came hours after The Sunday Times claimed that associates of Mr Mcdonnell had been holding secret discussions regarding replacing Mr Corbyn in the wake of Labour’s anti-semitism row, which has rumbled on for months. One source pointed to his increased media presence in recent weeks as evidence that he was on “manoeuvres”. Another, a Labour MP, said that moderate parliamentarians were also “coming around” to Mr Mcdonnell and believe that he would be “preferable to Corbyn”.
It follows reports that the shadow chancellor has grown increasingly frustrated by his party’s inability to deal with the issue of anti-semitism, which many in Labour fear is harming their popularity with the electorate.
At the height of the controversy, sources close to the shadow chancellor claimed that he had confronted Mr Corbyn over the issue and urged him to take a tougher stance.
Privately, Mr Mcdonnell has also taken a notably different approach to Mr Corbyn on the party’s deselection row, with Labour insiders telling The Daily Telegraph that he has promised to intervene on behalf of two MPS facing being ousted by their constituency parties, while Mr Corbyn has insisted he will not intervene in the “democratic rights” of party members who want to oust their MPS.
Separately, it has emerged that one of Mr Corbyn’s closest aides has been banned from entering Ukraine over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin.
Andrew Murray, an adviser to the Labour leader, has been barred from entering the country for three years on the grounds that he is a threat to national security and is viewed to be part of the Kremlin’s global propaganda network.
A spokesman for Mr Murray said: “Andrew completely rejects the suggestion of being part of a so-called propaganda network and is a frequent critic of Putin and his government. He has never been to Ukraine, nor has any plans to visit the country.”