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Labour frontbenchers rule out serving in Corbyn's shadow cabinet Labour frontbenchers rule out serving in Corbyn's shadow cabinet
(35 minutes later)
A victorious Jeremy Corbyn vowed “things can and will change” as he was handed the clearest electoral mandate of any Labour leader but also given the challenge of forming a shadow cabinet as at least seven members of the party’s frontbench indicated they would not serve under his leadership. A victorious Jeremy Corbyn vowed “things can and will change” as he was handed the clearest electoral mandate of any Labour leader, but he also faces the challenge of forming a shadow cabinet after at least seven members of the party’s frontbench indicated they would not serve under his leadership.
Yvette Cooper led the group of shadow cabinet members declaring they could not serve under his leadership in the hours after it emerged that the MP for Islington North had won 60% of the vote in the first round, winning in every part of the electoral college including among party members.Yvette Cooper led the group of shadow cabinet members declaring they could not serve under his leadership in the hours after it emerged that the MP for Islington North had won 60% of the vote in the first round, winning in every part of the electoral college including among party members.
Their decision is a risk since if Corbyn has a political honeymoon, they find themselves marginalised in a party otherwise united behind its new leader, who won a slightly higher share of the vote in the first round than did Tony Blair in 1994. Their decision is a risk, because if Corbyn has a political honeymoon, they may find themselves marginalised in a party otherwise united behind its new leader, who won a slightly higher share of the vote in the first round than Tony Blair did in 1994.
Corbyn told the London conference at which his victory was announced that “this great democratic exercise” meant “the fightback of our party now gathers speed and gathers pace”.Corbyn told the London conference at which his victory was announced that “this great democratic exercise” meant “the fightback of our party now gathers speed and gathers pace”.
The new leader now faces the task of constructing a broad-based shadow cabinet, pulling out of his major TV interview with Andrew Marr on the BBC on Sunday to start the process. But within two hours it was clear that Rachel Reeves, Emma Reynolds, Chuka Umunna, Tristram Hunt, Chris Leslie and Liz Kendall as well as Cooper would not serve his leadership. The new leader now faces the task of constructing a broad-based shadow cabinet, pulling out of a major TV interview with Andrew Marr on the BBC on Sunday to start the process. Within two hours it was clear that Rachel Reeves, Emma Reynolds, Tristram Hunt, Chris Leslie and Liz Kendall as well as Cooper would not serve under his leadership.
With 554,272 eligible voters and 422,664 votes cast, Corbyn won 251,417 (59.5%) including 121,751 from members, 88,449 from registered supporters and 41,217 from affiliated supporters. Nearly 87% of the new £3 registered supporters voted for Corbyn and just under 50% of all party members. With 554,272 eligible voters and 422,664 votes cast, Corbyn won 251,417, or 59.5%. He received the votes of 121,751 members, 88,449 registered supporters and 41,217 affiliated supporters. Nearly 87% of the new £3 registered supporters voted for Corbyn and just under 50% of all party members.
Yvette Cooper won in total 71,928 (17%), Andy Burnham, 80,462 (19%) and Liz Kendall, just 18,857 (4.5%). Andy Burnham’s overall vote count was 80,462 or 19%, Cooper’s was 71,928 or 17%; and Kendall’s was 18,857 or 4.5%.
In a worry for the party only 71,000 affiliated union supporters voted, the lowest number in the party’s history and a decline that will be exploited by the government as they seek to sever the union party financial link in the forthcoming trade union bill. Only 71,000 affiliated union supporters voted in the leadership contest, the lowest number in the party’s history and a decline that will be exploited by the government as it seeks to sever the party’s financial links with the union movement with its forthcoming trade union bill.
Accepting victory, Corbynsaid: “We go forward now as a movement and a party, bigger than we have ever been in a very, very long time, stronger than we have been for a very long time, more determined than we have been for a very long time, to show to everyone that the objectives of our party are intact, our passion is intact, our demand for humanity is intact.” Accepting victory, Corbyn said: “We go forward now as a movement and a party, bigger than we have ever been in a very, very long time, stronger than we have been for a very long time, more determined than we have been for a very long time, to show to everyone that the objectives of our party are intact, our passion is intact, our demand for humanity is intact.”
In a largely unscripted speech he said the party is going to become more “inclusive, more involved, more democratic” and will “shape the future of everyone in this country”. He added: “We don’t have to be unequal, it doesn’t have to be unfair, poverty isn’t inevitable, things can, and they will, change.” In a largely unscripted speech he said the party iwould become more “inclusive, more involved, more democratic” and would “shape the future of everyone in this country”.
“We don’t have to be unequal. It doesn’t have to be unfair. Poverty isn’t inevitable. Things can, and they will, change.”
In a bid to show he wishes to link the parliamentary party to wider social movements, he left the victory ceremony to speak to a London rally supporting refugees in Europe.In a bid to show he wishes to link the parliamentary party to wider social movements, he left the victory ceremony to speak to a London rally supporting refugees in Europe.
Burnham made no announcement, but has already been recorded as describing Corbyn as a disaster for the party. But many MPs, including some on the right such as Liam Byrne are likely to serve and Corbyn will make a special point of giving prominent positions to women. Burnham made no announcement, but has already been recorded as describing Corbyn as a disaster for the party. Many MPs, however, including some on the right such as Liam Byrne, are likely to serve and Corbyn will make a point of giving prominent positions to women.
The GMB leader, Paul Kenny, urged senior MPs “to give him a chance. I think he is going to be far more inclusive leader; I think the tent could potentially be quite wide and that is good news for Labour.” The GMB leader, Paul Kenny, urged senior MPs to give Corbyn a chance. “I think he is going to be far more inclusive leader. I think the tent could potentially be quite wide and that is good news for Labour,” he said.
There are fears that Corbyn in the short term does not have the expertise around him to run a leader’s office, and will suffer in the critical opening weeks if he faces big decisions on Trident, Syria and Europe. There are concerns that Corbyn does not have the expertise around him in the short term to run a leader’s office, and will suffer in the critical opening weeks of his leadership if he faces big decisions on Trident, Syria and Europe.
But Ed Miliband, who on Thursday told Corbyn he would not serve, said the party should respect his mandate, adding it was the task of the new leader to unite all wings of the party. Ed Miliband, who on Thursday told Corbyn he would not serve, said the party should respect his mandate, and that it was the task of the new leader to unite all wings of the party.
“I hope and expect that Jeremy will do everything he can to reach out and use the talents of people right across the party in the task of taking on the Tories and facing up to the very big challenges that we face.” “I hope and expect that Jeremy will do everything he can to reach out and use the talents of people right across the party in the task of taking on the Tories and facing up to the very big challenges that we face,” he said.
Tom Watson was elected as deputy leader in a harder fought contest that saw him beat off a challenge from Stella Creasy and Caroline Flint. Tom Watson was elected deputy leader in a tougher contest that saw him beat off a challenge from Stella Creasy and Caroline Flint.
Watson, now a critical power-broker as party staff quit, claimed the result was a referendum on the political culture inside the party. Watson won in the third round of voting, with 50.7%, while Creasey achieved 26.4% and Flint 22.8% Watson, now a critical powerbroker, said the result was a referendum on the political culture within the party. Watson won in the third round of voting with 50.7%, compared with Creasy’s 26.4% and Flint’s 22.8%.
The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, started the Tory attack on Corbyn, saying: “This is a very serious moment for our country. Labour are now a serious risk to our nation’s security, our economy’s security and your family’s security. Whether it’s weakening our defences, raising taxes on jobs and earnings, racking up more debt and welfare or driving up the cost of living by printing money – Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party will hurt working people.” The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, opened the Tory attack on Corbyn. “This is a very serious moment for our country. Labour are now a serious risk to our nation’s security, our economy’s security and your family’s security,” he said.
Those on the right of the Labour party acknowledged they had failed to come up with a compelling set of arguments in the election, and that the era of Blair-Brown politics was now over, requiring new alliances and thinking. Ideas of a coup or a split are dispelled, but they believe only by staying away from the frontbench can they avoid the tyranny of unity that had silenced debate between 2010 and 2015. “Whether it’s weakening our defences, raising taxes on jobs and earnings, racking up more debt and welfare or driving up the cost of living by printing money, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party will hurt working people.”
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: “I’ve always worked with everybody in the Labour party and I’m not taking my bat and ball home. I don’t think that’s the right approach. Those on the right of the Labour party acknowledged they had failed to come up with a compelling set of arguments in the election, and that the era of Blair-Brown politics was now over, requiring new alliances and thinking. Ideas of a coup or a split are dismissed, but they believe that only by staying away from the frontbench can they avoid the tyranny of unity that had silenced debate between 2010 and 2015.
Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: “I’ve always worked with everybody in the Labour party and I’m not taking my bat and ball home. I don’t think that’s the right approach.
“I’ve said I wouldn’t expect to be part of Jeremy’s shadow cabinet, but I will be part of working for the Labour party because I always will. What I want to do now is concentrate on the Labour for Europe yes campaign. That is going to be a big challenge for us. The referendum is going to be immensely important. We are going to need to put that argument right across the country.”“I’ve said I wouldn’t expect to be part of Jeremy’s shadow cabinet, but I will be part of working for the Labour party because I always will. What I want to do now is concentrate on the Labour for Europe yes campaign. That is going to be a big challenge for us. The referendum is going to be immensely important. We are going to need to put that argument right across the country.”
The shadow work and pensions secretary, Rachel Reeves, a Burnham supporter also pulled out of frontline politics, saying: “When I return from maternity leave in January, I will serve my constituents in Leeds West, party and new leadership from backbenches.” Reeves, the shadow work and pensions secretary and a Burnham supporter also pulled out of frontline politics. “When I return from maternity leave in January, I will serve my constituents in Leeds West, party and new leadership from backbenches,” she said.
Tristam Hunt said: “I will not seek to be part of the frontbench. It is important to be honest about it - I have substantial political differences with Jeremy.” Hunt said: “I will not seek to be part of the frontbench. It is important to be honest about it. I have substantial political differences with Jeremy.
He said: “We need to congratulate Jeremy on his victory. He has won fair and square and within the rules. He said: “We need to congratulate [him] on his victory. He has won fair and square and within the rules.
“He has won handsomely. Now he needs the respect and the space as Labour leader to build his team and go forward. I need to think long and hard about the nature of our loss and how we get back to being an electable Labour party.“He has won handsomely. Now he needs the respect and the space as Labour leader to build his team and go forward. I need to think long and hard about the nature of our loss and how we get back to being an electable Labour party.
“Like Tribune, like Campaign, like Class there are lots of ginger groups and intellectual groupings within the Labour party. We have to be mature that the Labour party is made up of many traditions. Jeremy said he wanted a democratic and open debate within the party and we would be very keen to contribute to that.”“Like Tribune, like Campaign, like Class there are lots of ginger groups and intellectual groupings within the Labour party. We have to be mature that the Labour party is made up of many traditions. Jeremy said he wanted a democratic and open debate within the party and we would be very keen to contribute to that.”
Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, who said that winning office is the “ultimate way” to put Labour values into action, congratulated Corbyn but is also expected to return to the backbenches.Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, who said that winning office is the “ultimate way” to put Labour values into action, congratulated Corbyn but is also expected to return to the backbenches.
Lord Prescott called for loyalty from MPs, saying they need to get behind the membership. “It’s sad if they are not prepared to take any notice of the membership,” he said. “Please Rachel think about it. The party has spoken. It’s an exciting time”. Lord Prescott called for loyalty. “It’s sad if they are not prepared to take any notice of the membership,” he said. “Please Rachel think about it. The party has spoken. It’s an exciting time.”