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Labour MPs question Jeremy Corbyn over EU and Nato after shadow cabinet reshuffle Corbyn gathers his cabinet and makes first moves to rally MPs
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn faced a grilling from shellshocked Labour MPs after a day of policy confusion and a sometimes chaotic shadow cabinet reshuffle revealing the lengths the newly elected leader still has to go to rally the parliamentary party behind him.Jeremy Corbyn faced a grilling from shellshocked Labour MPs after a day of policy confusion and a sometimes chaotic shadow cabinet reshuffle revealing the lengths the newly elected leader still has to go to rally the parliamentary party behind him.
At the evening meeting of the parliamentary Labour party, Corbyn faced pointed calls to clarify his position on Europe, Nato, Trident and possible air strikes in Syria – and even whether he would wear a white poppy at the Cenotaph. At the evening meeting of the parliamentary Labour party, Corbyn faced pointed calls to clarify his position on Europe, Nato, Trident and possible airstrikes in Syria – and even whether he would wear a white poppy at the Cenotaph.
The new Labour leader was asked by Gisela Stuart to issue a statement telling his supporters to stop describing Labour MPs that did not agree with him as Tories, while Jess Phillips asked why men were dominating the senior positions in the party. The new Labour leader was asked by Gisela Stuart to issue a statement telling his supporters to stop describing Labour MPs who did not agree with him as Tories, while Jess Phillips asked why men were dominating the senior positions in the party.
Related: If first impressions matter, it's not been the best start for Jeremy Corbyn
The questions came after a day in which Corbyn completed a necessarily difficult shadow cabinet reshuffle – with the final result that, for the first time, more women had been appointed to the shadow cabinet than men. But that came after Corbyn was accused of blundering by handing the post of shadow home secretary, shadow foreign secretary and shadow chancellor – traditionally regarded as the most senior portfolios – to men.The questions came after a day in which Corbyn completed a necessarily difficult shadow cabinet reshuffle – with the final result that, for the first time, more women had been appointed to the shadow cabinet than men. But that came after Corbyn was accused of blundering by handing the post of shadow home secretary, shadow foreign secretary and shadow chancellor – traditionally regarded as the most senior portfolios – to men.
One MP at the PLP meeting described the atmosphere as one of concern with Corbyn’s first few hours in the job, rather than overt hostility.One MP at the PLP meeting described the atmosphere as one of concern with Corbyn’s first few hours in the job, rather than overt hostility.
Many MPs are privately saying Corbyn does not seem to have prepared for the leadership, and he is being urged by senior party figures to quickly build an experienced media team to help him project his messages. Many MPs are privately saying that Corbyn does not seem to have prepared for the leadership and he is being urged by senior party figures to quickly build an experienced media team to help him project his messages.
In his single most controversial appointment he handed the post of shadow chancellor to his close leftwing ally John McDonnell, prompting criticism from some Labour MPs. Charles Clarke, former Labour home secretary, said he was aghast and demanded party moderates draw up a parallel economic strategy. In his single most controversial appointment, he handed the post of shadow chancellor to his close leftwing ally John McDonnell, prompting criticism from some Labour MPs. Charles Clarke, former Labour home secretary, said he was aghast and demanded party moderates draw up a parallel economic strategy.
Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, refused to praise McDonnell’s appointment. He said “This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader.” Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, refused to praise McDonnell’s appointment. He said: “This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader.”
McDonnell countered the criticisms about men dominating in the top jobs in his team, saying this reflected a pecking order derived from 19th century colonial politics and in the modern world the delivery portfolios of education, defence, health and international development were more important. McDonnell countered the criticisms about men dominating in the top jobs, saying this reflected a pecking order derived from 19th-century colonial politics and the delivery portfolios of education, defence, health and international development were more important in the modern world.
Corbyn appointed Lucy Powell, Ed Miliband’s former chief of staff, to education, Maria Eagle to defence, Heidi Alexander to health, and leftwing veteran Diane Abbott to the international development post.Corbyn appointed Lucy Powell, Ed Miliband’s former chief of staff, to education, Maria Eagle to defence, Heidi Alexander to health, and leftwing veteran Diane Abbott to the international development post.
Late on Sunday night, faced by criticism of the dominance of men, he also announced that Angela Eagle, already appointed business secretary, would be made shadow first secretary of state and so would cover for him at prime minister’s questions. One of his aides was overheard recommending Eagle’s swift elevation, saying he needed to “do a Mandelson” and give her a title that Mandelson had when he was in government .Late on Sunday night, faced by criticism of the dominance of men, he also announced that Angela Eagle, already appointed business secretary, would be made shadow first secretary of state and so would cover for him at prime minister’s questions. One of his aides was overheard recommending Eagle’s swift elevation, saying he needed to “do a Mandelson” and give her a title that Mandelson had when he was in government .
Corbyn took the same line of defence as McDonnell, saying: “You can’t say that foreign secretary is more important than delivering education to our children, or the health of the people.”Corbyn took the same line of defence as McDonnell, saying: “You can’t say that foreign secretary is more important than delivering education to our children, or the health of the people.”
McDonnell, probably Corbyn’s oldest political ally and secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group, said that he would reject the traditional restraining role of the treasury. He said he will not backtrack on his opposition to austerity and that his role was to transform capitalism. He acknowledged he had made enemies at Westminster but that was because he had been swimming against a tide of austerity. McDonnell, probably Corbyn’s oldest political ally and secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group, said he would reject the traditional restraining role of the Treasury. He said he would not backtrack on his opposition to austerity and that his role was to transform capitalism. He acknowledged he had made enemies at Westminster but that was because he had been swimming against a tide of austerity.
McDonnell also defended controversial remarks he had made about the IRA in 2003, when he had argued that it was “bombs and bullets” that had “brought Britain to the negotiating table”. He said that he was trying to strengthen the wing of the IRA that favoured peace by saying they could stand down with dignity. Although he admitted his words had not been well chosen, he said did not regret them if it led to any lives being saved. McDonnell defended controversial remarks he had made about the IRA in 2003, when he had argued that it was “bombs and bullets” that had “brought Britain to the negotiating table”. He said that he was trying to strengthen the wing of the IRA that favoured peace by saying they could stand down with dignity. Although he admitted his words had not been well chosen, he said did not regret them if it led to lives being saved.
Separately, confusion surrounded the party’s position on the referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the EU. Benn attempted to calm fears among many Labour MPs that Corbyn might chose to campaign for Britain to leave the EU in the in-out referendum expected next year. Separately, confusion surrounded the party’s position on the referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the EU. Benn attempted to calm fears among many Labour MPs that Corbyn might choose to campaign for Britain to leave the EU in the in/out referendum expected next year.
It is understood that Chuka Umunna stood down as shadow business secretary, declining to serve under Corbyn, complaining the new leader had refused to give him an assurance he would not back a “Brexit” vote.It is understood that Chuka Umunna stood down as shadow business secretary, declining to serve under Corbyn, complaining the new leader had refused to give him an assurance he would not back a “Brexit” vote.
Benn said Corbyn would fight to stay in the EU “under all circumstances”. Related: Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet in full
But in a separate interview McDonnell told the Guardian that Corbyn would only take a view on the EU referendum package when David Cameron presented a deal. “Jeremy has made it clear that what we should be working with parties across Europe for is a reform package across Europe itself. Whatever Cameron comes back with, we will have to assess what that is,” he said. Benn said Corbyn would fight to stay in the EU “under all circumstances”, but McDonnell told the Guardian that Corbyn would only take a view on the EU referendum package when David Cameron presented a deal. “Jeremy has made it clear that what we should be working with parties across Europe for is a reform package across Europe itself. Whatever Cameron comes back with, we will have to assess what that is,” he said.
“If it is any attack on employment rights or the promotion of TTIP [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] we will be rejecting that package, but we will have to come up with a reform programme as well. Jeremy has not supported withdrawal, but has not given Cameron a free pass on it.” “If it is any attack on employment rights or the promotion of TTIP [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership], we will be rejecting that package, but we will have to come up with a reform programme as well. Jeremy has not supported withdrawal, but has not given Cameron a free pass on it.”
Corbyn also opposes the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and has questioned the role of Nato. Chris Bryant, who was appointed shadow leader of the House of Commons, said: “It’s difficult and I think it is going to be a bit of a bumpy ride because there are issues on which – they are not light issues – I profoundly disagree with him, like on Nato.” Corbyn opposes the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and has questioned the role of Nato. Chris Bryant, who was appointed shadow leader of the House of Commons, said: “It’s difficult and I think it is going to be a bit of a bumpy ride because there are issues on which – they are not light issues – I profoundly disagree with him, like on Nato.”Corbyn has also said that opposes the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and has questioned the role of Nato.