Shell-suited and shell-shocked . . . Jezza faces defeat
DRESSED in a baggy blue shell-suit and looking tired, Jeremy Corbyn was seen returning to his North London home yesterday morning – with a couple of cups of coffee and a less welcome, no doubt, selection of newspapers.
The embattled Labour leader was due to speak at a Latin America conference at the TUC’s London headquarters later in the day.
But the packed hall was told he was unable to attend because he was ‘putting all his commitment into trying to prevent war’ – a reference to his opposition to the proposed British bombing of IS targets in Syria.
To add to his woes, Mr Corbyn faces a ‘fight to the death’ at a by-election on Thursday which could spell the end of his leadership after just ten weeks. Labour sources say its canvassers fear it is within a ‘couple of thousand’ votes of losing in Oldham West, where it is defending a 14,700 majority.
The contest will come just a day after the expected Commons vote on Syria, at which Mr Corbyn is likely to be defied by dozens of his MPs who back extending air strikes to Syrian territory.
If Labour loses Oldham – or Mr Corbyn imposes a three-line-whip compelling MPs to oppose bombing – his frontbench opponents say they plan to resign en masse and put down a vote of no confidence to the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Last night, one Labour MP said even if the party held on to Oldham West, it may only be a ‘stay of execution’ for the leader. ‘It’s likely there’ll be a massive swing away from us and, as we’re the main opposition party, that’s a damning indictment of Corbyn,’ he said.
Both Mr Corbyn’s deputy Tom Watson and the Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn – who is tipped as a possible interim leader if Mr Corbyn is ousted – have publicly refused to back him over his opposition to air strikes.
At the Latin America conference, one of the Labour leader’s closest advisers said he hoped a government led by Mr Corbyn would take its inspiration from the radical Left-wing policies of Venezuela – a country that is beset by a soaring crime rate and an ailing economy.
Former MP Chris Williamson said: ‘Imagine walking into No10 with a trade union bill that is based on legislation passed in Venezuela.’