Labour leadership candidates ‘would offer jobs to rivals’

ALL THREE Labour leadership candidates have said they would offer their rivals shadow cabinet positions if they won the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

However, Diane Abbott has said she will quit the front bench when a new leader is elected.

Ms Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, told Sky News that whoever becomes leader, “they have to be able to construct their own Shadow Cabinet”.

Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said she would she would be backing Rebecca LongBailey, but returning to the backbenches.

Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy also each said they would happily serve in the winners’ team, shortly before voting opens today. Frontrunner Sir Keir, inset, said he would offer senior roles to both of his opponents if he won, as he took part in a Durham hustings yesterday.

“I would happily offer both these candidates a top job in the shadow cabinet and I’d happily serve them if they wanted me to do the same,” the Shadow Brexit Secretary said.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, who has struggled in the polls since being seen as an early favourite, said she would accept a job in either of their shadow cabinets. “I would, I think they’re both brilliant,” the Shadow Business Secretary said.

Wigan MP Ms Nandy praised her opponents in confirming she would give them key roles.

“I like both of these people, I respect them. I would want them in my shadow cabinet doing big jobs,” she said. “But I would equally be happy to serve alongside them in whatever role they chose to give me.”

Meanwhile, Sir Keir has called on members to unite or face having the party out of power for a generation. He said “uniting the party” was his first priority and his second to be an effective opposition to “really dangerous man” Boris Johnson.

Sir Keir’s said that if Labour loses the next election then an entire generation “will have not had the protection and benefit of a Labour government”.

He added: “Do you want to make history, pull together and change? If the answer to that is yes, then let’s do it.”