This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/04/jeremy-corbyn-issues-defiant-video-urging-labour-unity
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tom Watson to meet unions to discuss Jeremy Corbyn leadership standoff | Tom Watson to meet unions to discuss Jeremy Corbyn leadership standoff |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Labour deputy leader Tom Watson is seeking to meet trade union chiefs on Tuesday to discuss Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership in a “last roll of the dice” aimed at getting him to step down. | Labour deputy leader Tom Watson is seeking to meet trade union chiefs on Tuesday to discuss Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership in a “last roll of the dice” aimed at getting him to step down. |
| Watson told MPs that he had met with Corbyn on Monday morning and informed him that having the support of the membership was not enough to carry on. | Watson told MPs that he had met with Corbyn on Monday morning and informed him that having the support of the membership was not enough to carry on. |
| The senior Labour MP said he would try to meet with union bosses in a last-ditch attempt to get them to help with a negotiated settlement, as the turmoil over the party’s leadership entered its 10th day. | The senior Labour MP said he would try to meet with union bosses in a last-ditch attempt to get them to help with a negotiated settlement, as the turmoil over the party’s leadership entered its 10th day. |
| If that does not happen, sources said Corbyn was likely to face a leadership challenge within days from Angela Eagle or Owen Smith, two former shadow cabinet ministers. | If that does not happen, sources said Corbyn was likely to face a leadership challenge within days from Angela Eagle or Owen Smith, two former shadow cabinet ministers. |
| Eagle, his most likely competitor for the leadership, stated publicly on Monday for the first time that she was prepared to break the impasse at the top of Labour by directly challenging Corbyn. | Eagle, his most likely competitor for the leadership, stated publicly on Monday for the first time that she was prepared to break the impasse at the top of Labour by directly challenging Corbyn. |
| The former shadow business secretary, who resigned last week, told Sky News as she left her home on Monday: “I have the support to run and resolve this impasse and I will do so if Jeremy doesn’t take action soon.” | The former shadow business secretary, who resigned last week, told Sky News as she left her home on Monday: “I have the support to run and resolve this impasse and I will do so if Jeremy doesn’t take action soon.” |
| Her team are still understood to be considering their timing for a challenge, given the upcoming publication of the Chilcot report and the parallel Tory leadership contest, if Corbyn does not stand down. | Her team are still understood to be considering their timing for a challenge, given the upcoming publication of the Chilcot report and the parallel Tory leadership contest, if Corbyn does not stand down. |
| However, the Labour leader issued a defiant video on Monday, directed at members, highlighting his achievements, which include forcing the Tories into U-turns on tax credits and forced academisation of schools. Corbyn pointed out that the party has won every byelection it had stood in since he became leader last year. | However, the Labour leader issued a defiant video on Monday, directed at members, highlighting his achievements, which include forcing the Tories into U-turns on tax credits and forced academisation of schools. Corbyn pointed out that the party has won every byelection it had stood in since he became leader last year. |
| “After the events of the past week, I wanted to talk directly to Labour party members,” he says in the video. “Only nine months ago, I was very honoured to be elected leader of our party with 60% of the votes. I have a huge responsibility; I’m carrying out that responsibility. | “After the events of the past week, I wanted to talk directly to Labour party members,” he says in the video. “Only nine months ago, I was very honoured to be elected leader of our party with 60% of the votes. I have a huge responsibility; I’m carrying out that responsibility. |
| “The membership has gone up by more than 60,000 in one week. “We’re now at the biggest membership we’ve been, certainly in all of my lifetime. | “The membership has gone up by more than 60,000 in one week. “We’re now at the biggest membership we’ve been, certainly in all of my lifetime. |
| “That membership wants and expects all of us – me as leader and members of parliament – to work together in their interests, the interests of everyone in this country, to achieve a better society, better standards of living and real equality in the future.” | “That membership wants and expects all of us – me as leader and members of parliament – to work together in their interests, the interests of everyone in this country, to achieve a better society, better standards of living and real equality in the future.” |
| Sources said Corbyn and Watson had a polite 20-minute meeting on Monday in which the Labour leader made it clear he had no intention of stepping down. Watson is understood to have said having a mandate from the membership is not enough and Corbyn needs to have the confidence of his MPs. | Sources said Corbyn and Watson had a polite 20-minute meeting on Monday in which the Labour leader made it clear he had no intention of stepping down. Watson is understood to have said having a mandate from the membership is not enough and Corbyn needs to have the confidence of his MPs. |
| The deputy leader later told MPs at Labour’s weekly meeting of their parliamentary party it was their duty to exhaust every avenue in pursuit of a settlement before anyone resorted to a leadership challenge. | The deputy leader later told MPs at Labour’s weekly meeting of their parliamentary party it was their duty to exhaust every avenue in pursuit of a settlement before anyone resorted to a leadership challenge. |
| Also at the meeting, Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, moved some MPs to tears with a speech about the party being based in parliamentary socialism. One backbencher said the peer received an emotional standing ovation for his comments – reminiscent of his famous anti-Militant tirade at the party’s conference in 1985. | Also at the meeting, Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, moved some MPs to tears with a speech about the party being based in parliamentary socialism. One backbencher said the peer received an emotional standing ovation for his comments – reminiscent of his famous anti-Militant tirade at the party’s conference in 1985. |
| Kinnock said the history of Labour was about winning parliamentary representation for working people, not revolutionary socialism – and pointed out that Corbyn had backed a challenge against him by Tony Benn in 1988, despite his strong mandate. | Kinnock said the history of Labour was about winning parliamentary representation for working people, not revolutionary socialism – and pointed out that Corbyn had backed a challenge against him by Tony Benn in 1988, despite his strong mandate. |
| There are deep divisions in the party over how best to tackle the impasse between Corbyn and his MPs. Corbyn has lost the support of the vast majority and most of his shadow cabinet resigned last week. | There are deep divisions in the party over how best to tackle the impasse between Corbyn and his MPs. Corbyn has lost the support of the vast majority and most of his shadow cabinet resigned last week. |
| However, the Labour leader points out he has the mandate to continue because he was elected by an overwhelming majority of members only nine months ago. | However, the Labour leader points out he has the mandate to continue because he was elected by an overwhelming majority of members only nine months ago. |
| The shadow Europe minister, Fabian Hamilton, became the 65th member of the frontbench to resign in just over a week. | The shadow Europe minister, Fabian Hamilton, became the 65th member of the frontbench to resign in just over a week. |
| Hamilton, the most prominent Jewish MP on the frontbench after the resignation of Luciana Berger last week, said he was troubled by Corbyn’s response to the party’s antisemitism inquiry, particularly the treatment of MP Ruth Smeeth, who left the launch of the report in tears after a member of the public appeared to accuse her of colluding with journalists. | Hamilton, the most prominent Jewish MP on the frontbench after the resignation of Luciana Berger last week, said he was troubled by Corbyn’s response to the party’s antisemitism inquiry, particularly the treatment of MP Ruth Smeeth, who left the launch of the report in tears after a member of the public appeared to accuse her of colluding with journalists. |
| Last week, party officials said at least 60,000 people had joined the Labour party in the previous week – the fastest membership rise of any British political party in history. Momentum, the grassroots leftwing movement that supports Corbyn, says it has doubled its membership to 12,000. | Last week, party officials said at least 60,000 people had joined the Labour party in the previous week – the fastest membership rise of any British political party in history. Momentum, the grassroots leftwing movement that supports Corbyn, says it has doubled its membership to 12,000. |
| However, Corbyn backers who signed up in droves as £3 registered supporters to vote at Labour’s last leadership election will not be able to automatically vote for him again, several Labour sources have confirmed. | However, Corbyn backers who signed up in droves as £3 registered supporters to vote at Labour’s last leadership election will not be able to automatically vote for him again, several Labour sources have confirmed. |
| Registered supporters have no “ongoing” relationship with the party and would thus have to sign up again, under Labour party rules. There is also no rule on the registered supporter fee remaining at £3, or on the timeframe in which new members should be allowed to sign up, which is a matter for the national executive committee (NEC) to decide. | Registered supporters have no “ongoing” relationship with the party and would thus have to sign up again, under Labour party rules. There is also no rule on the registered supporter fee remaining at £3, or on the timeframe in which new members should be allowed to sign up, which is a matter for the national executive committee (NEC) to decide. |
| “It could be free, it could be £50,000 – there’s nothing to say it has to be £3,” a Labour source told the Guardian. | “It could be free, it could be £50,000 – there’s nothing to say it has to be £3,” a Labour source told the Guardian. |
| Another source confirmed it was the case that there was “no formal ongoing relationship conferred upon them [registered supporters] because they paid to participate in one leadership election. That only allows them to vote in that leadership election”. | Another source confirmed it was the case that there was “no formal ongoing relationship conferred upon them [registered supporters] because they paid to participate in one leadership election. That only allows them to vote in that leadership election”. |
| Labour’s NEC, which will hold an emergency meeting as soon as a candidate declares to challenge Corbyn, is understood to be actively exploring ways to avoid the chaos of the last leadership election, when the party’s head office was unable to cope with the volume of new registered supporters needing to be thoroughly vetted. | Labour’s NEC, which will hold an emergency meeting as soon as a candidate declares to challenge Corbyn, is understood to be actively exploring ways to avoid the chaos of the last leadership election, when the party’s head office was unable to cope with the volume of new registered supporters needing to be thoroughly vetted. |
| The NEC is tightly balanced between Corbyn supporters and detractors. Following Ken Livingstone’s resignation from the NEC after his suspension for comments about Hitler and Zionism, he was replaced by PCS union official and Cardiff city councillor Darren Williams. Eagle, who held an NEC position as a frontbencher, has been replaced by Jon Trickett. Williams and Trickett are both likely to back Corbyn. | The NEC is tightly balanced between Corbyn supporters and detractors. Following Ken Livingstone’s resignation from the NEC after his suspension for comments about Hitler and Zionism, he was replaced by PCS union official and Cardiff city councillor Darren Williams. Eagle, who held an NEC position as a frontbencher, has been replaced by Jon Trickett. Williams and Trickett are both likely to back Corbyn. |
| Despite the leadership machinations, Clive Lewis and Jonathan Reynolds, two Labour MPs from different ends of the party’s political spectrum, issued a joint call on Monday for the party to embrace an agenda of electoral reform. A change in the political landscape meant “a shift to a proportional voting system is now urgent,” they said. | Despite the leadership machinations, Clive Lewis and Jonathan Reynolds, two Labour MPs from different ends of the party’s political spectrum, issued a joint call on Monday for the party to embrace an agenda of electoral reform. A change in the political landscape meant “a shift to a proportional voting system is now urgent,” they said. |
| Lewis, the shadow defence secretary, will speak on Tuesday alongside Green party MP Caroline Lucas and the Liberal Democrats’ Vince Cable to call for a rethink on how progressive parties cooperate after the EU referendum. | Lewis, the shadow defence secretary, will speak on Tuesday alongside Green party MP Caroline Lucas and the Liberal Democrats’ Vince Cable to call for a rethink on how progressive parties cooperate after the EU referendum. |
| “The era of just two big parties representing the vast bulk of the country is over and we now see the pent-up consequences of pretending that is still the case,” the statement from Lewis and Reynolds said. | “The era of just two big parties representing the vast bulk of the country is over and we now see the pent-up consequences of pretending that is still the case,” the statement from Lewis and Reynolds said. |
| “The divisions we now see in both main parties and the growing multitude of smaller parties means government will increasingly be through alliances of political parties. We welcome the formation of a progressive alliance of parties that want a more equal, democratic and sustainable society.” | “The divisions we now see in both main parties and the growing multitude of smaller parties means government will increasingly be through alliances of political parties. We welcome the formation of a progressive alliance of parties that want a more equal, democratic and sustainable society.” |
| Labour MPs are increasingly taking initiatives on EU matters despite being outside the shadow cabinet. Two other prominent Labour MPs, Seema Malhotra and Stephen Kinnock, wrote to the prime minister, David Cameron, on Monday to demand a strong opposition voice in Brexit negotiations. | Labour MPs are increasingly taking initiatives on EU matters despite being outside the shadow cabinet. Two other prominent Labour MPs, Seema Malhotra and Stephen Kinnock, wrote to the prime minister, David Cameron, on Monday to demand a strong opposition voice in Brexit negotiations. |
| In the letter, they called for a special parliamentary committee on EU renegotiation to be established, with cross-party membership from the House of Commons and the House of Lords. “In this time of national crisis, the role of parliament has never been more important,” the pair said. “We must now develop robust scrutiny structures and processes that command confidence. This is about the future of our country and of our democracy.” | In the letter, they called for a special parliamentary committee on EU renegotiation to be established, with cross-party membership from the House of Commons and the House of Lords. “In this time of national crisis, the role of parliament has never been more important,” the pair said. “We must now develop robust scrutiny structures and processes that command confidence. This is about the future of our country and of our democracy.” |