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| Corbyn faces leadership challenge from Labour MP if May elections disappoint | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A Labour MP has said he will try to oust Jeremy Corbyn as leader if the party flops in May’s devolved and local elections. | A Labour MP has said he will try to oust Jeremy Corbyn as leader if the party flops in May’s devolved and local elections. |
| Simon Danczuk, one of Corbyn’s most vocal internal critics, said he would seek to stand as a “stalking horse” to force a contest. | Simon Danczuk, one of Corbyn’s most vocal internal critics, said he would seek to stand as a “stalking horse” to force a contest. |
| He said his aim would be to open the door to colleagues such as Chuka Umunna, Dan Jarvis and Emma Reynolds to mount a challenge and “give us some chance of winning the next general election”. | He said his aim would be to open the door to colleagues such as Chuka Umunna, Dan Jarvis and Emma Reynolds to mount a challenge and “give us some chance of winning the next general election”. |
| Related: Second peer abandons Labour benches in Lords over Corbyn's leadership | Related: Second peer abandons Labour benches in Lords over Corbyn's leadership |
| But any challenger would face a stiff test given the dramatic margin of Corbyn’s victory in September, especially among the tens of thousands of new party recruits enthused by his anti-austerity message. | But any challenger would face a stiff test given the dramatic margin of Corbyn’s victory in September, especially among the tens of thousands of new party recruits enthused by his anti-austerity message. |
| The Rochdale MP – who would have to secure the backing of 46 of the party’s 231 MPs – told the Mail on Sunday: “If the results for Labour in May are as dire as we all fear, then yes I would be prepared to stand as a stalking horse against Jeremy Corbyn. | The Rochdale MP – who would have to secure the backing of 46 of the party’s 231 MPs – told the Mail on Sunday: “If the results for Labour in May are as dire as we all fear, then yes I would be prepared to stand as a stalking horse against Jeremy Corbyn. |
| “My only intention is to secure a better leader for the Labour party and to give us some chance of winning the next general election. | “My only intention is to secure a better leader for the Labour party and to give us some chance of winning the next general election. |
| “At the moment, I and many of my fellow MPs simply cannot see that happening under the current leadership. | |
| “I do not have any expectation of winning myself, but would hope to open up the field for serious contenders such as Chuka, Dan or Emma.” | “I do not have any expectation of winning myself, but would hope to open up the field for serious contenders such as Chuka, Dan or Emma.” |
| Under Labour rules, potential challengers to a sitting leader can seek nominations before the annual session of party conference, with any failing to meet the threshold of 20% of MPs declared “null and void”. | |
| Danczuk’s latest broadside against the leadership came as Ed Miliband’s former policy chief announced he was forming a new group aimed at ensuring the party builds “a broad coalition of support”. | Danczuk’s latest broadside against the leadership came as Ed Miliband’s former policy chief announced he was forming a new group aimed at ensuring the party builds “a broad coalition of support”. |
| Labour Together is being spearheaded by Jon Cruddas, who wrote a scathing analysis of the party’s general election defeat which concluded that anti-austerity policies were a vote loser. | Labour Together is being spearheaded by Jon Cruddas, who wrote a scathing analysis of the party’s general election defeat which concluded that anti-austerity policies were a vote loser. |
| The MP nominated Corbyn for the leadership to broaden the debate but warned during the contest he could turn the party into a 1980s revival “Trotskyist tribute act” and said his diagnosis was “at odds with where the country is”. | The MP nominated Corbyn for the leadership to broaden the debate but warned during the contest he could turn the party into a 1980s revival “Trotskyist tribute act” and said his diagnosis was “at odds with where the country is”. |
| Related: Labour must return power to the people | Jon Cruddas | Related: Labour must return power to the people | Jon Cruddas |
| He said the group – which also involves shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy, MP Steve Reed and the leaders of Leeds and Newcastle councils – would “work with members who supported any of the four leadership candidates and with organisations across the spectrum of the Labour movement”. | |
| The launch comes at a time of fears among some moderates that the Corbyn-aligned Momentum group will be a vehicle for a takeover of the party by the left, including deselections of MPs – a charge denied by its founders. | The launch comes at a time of fears among some moderates that the Corbyn-aligned Momentum group will be a vehicle for a takeover of the party by the left, including deselections of MPs – a charge denied by its founders. |
| Corbyn said: “I welcome Labour Together as a good initiative that explores a new kind of way to do politics. I am looking forward to working with them.” | Corbyn said: “I welcome Labour Together as a good initiative that explores a new kind of way to do politics. I am looking forward to working with them.” |
| In the latest of a series of highly critical articles about Corbyn in the Mail on Sunday, Danczuk said he was guilty of “a profound lack of judgment and naivety” and was “on such a short ideological tether he’s never going to reach out beyond activists”. | |
| He said the leader – who called him in for talks this week to discuss his public criticisms – was “warm, well-meaning and sincere” with a “refreshing openness”. | He said the leader – who called him in for talks this week to discuss his public criticisms – was “warm, well-meaning and sincere” with a “refreshing openness”. |
| “But, unfortunately, politics is about much more than that. And as someone who desperately wants a Labour government, we need a leader who can win a general election, not parliamentary beard of the year. | “But, unfortunately, politics is about much more than that. And as someone who desperately wants a Labour government, we need a leader who can win a general election, not parliamentary beard of the year. |
| “He is unsuited to leading a major political party and the sooner we get a Labour leader who is, the better.” | “He is unsuited to leading a major political party and the sooner we get a Labour leader who is, the better.” |