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/09/jeremy-corbyn-set-for-leadership-challenge-after-peace-talks-fail
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Corbyn set for leadership challenge after peace talks fail | Jeremy Corbyn set for leadership challenge after peace talks fail |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Labour leadership contest looks set to be triggered after deputy leader Tom Watson announced that union-backed peace talks over a compromise deal between Jeremy Corbyn and his rebelling parliamentary party had collapsed. | A Labour leadership contest looks set to be triggered after deputy leader Tom Watson announced that union-backed peace talks over a compromise deal between Jeremy Corbyn and his rebelling parliamentary party had collapsed. |
| Watson claimed in a statement that Corbyn had torpedoed any hope of talks progressing by publicly declaring his intention to stay on as leader “come what may”. | |
| In a statement released on Saturday morning, Watson said that with “regret and profound sadness” he had concluded that there was “little to be achieved” in continuing discussions between the unions, who are largely backing Corbyn, and key members of the parliamentary party, including chief whip Rosie Winterton and parliamentary party chair John Cryer. | In a statement released on Saturday morning, Watson said that with “regret and profound sadness” he had concluded that there was “little to be achieved” in continuing discussions between the unions, who are largely backing Corbyn, and key members of the parliamentary party, including chief whip Rosie Winterton and parliamentary party chair John Cryer. |
| It is understood that Watson has been privately asking the two key contenders for the leadership, Angela Eagle and Owen Smith, to hold back from launching their campaigns to allow further time for an agreement with Corbyn to be made. | It is understood that Watson has been privately asking the two key contenders for the leadership, Angela Eagle and Owen Smith, to hold back from launching their campaigns to allow further time for an agreement with Corbyn to be made. |
| Related: Jeremy Corbyn: We can’t leave the negotiations with Europe to the Tories | Related: Jeremy Corbyn: We can’t leave the negotiations with Europe to the Tories |
| Watson’s statement suggests that he is now content for the contenders to publicly state their intentions to challenge Corbyn, who is resolved to stay on in his post despite the widespread lack of confidence in his role among MPs. | Watson’s statement suggests that he is now content for the contenders to publicly state their intentions to challenge Corbyn, who is resolved to stay on in his post despite the widespread lack of confidence in his role among MPs. |
| Watson said: “Since the talks began, Jeremy has publicly declared his intention to continue as leader come what may. This means there is no realistic prospect of reaching a compromise that satisfies the majority of colleagues in the PLP. | Watson said: “Since the talks began, Jeremy has publicly declared his intention to continue as leader come what may. This means there is no realistic prospect of reaching a compromise that satisfies the majority of colleagues in the PLP. |
| “It is with regret and profound sadness that I have concluded there is little to be achieved by pursuing wider conversations with our union affiliates at this time. | “It is with regret and profound sadness that I have concluded there is little to be achieved by pursuing wider conversations with our union affiliates at this time. |
| “The Labour party was founded with the explicit aim of pursuing the parliamentary path to socialism. Every Labour leader needs to command the support of their MPs in the parliamentary Labour party, as well as party members, in order to achieve that. It is clear to all that Jeremy has lost the support of the PLP with little prospect of regaining it.” | “The Labour party was founded with the explicit aim of pursuing the parliamentary path to socialism. Every Labour leader needs to command the support of their MPs in the parliamentary Labour party, as well as party members, in order to achieve that. It is clear to all that Jeremy has lost the support of the PLP with little prospect of regaining it.” |
| Watson said he felt that significant progress had been made in the talks between the unions and the parliamentary party representatives, in a sign that there may be some doubts among union leaders over the sense in Corbyn continuing. | Watson said he felt that significant progress had been made in the talks between the unions and the parliamentary party representatives, in a sign that there may be some doubts among union leaders over the sense in Corbyn continuing. |
| But the deputy Labour leader appeared to suggest that Corbyn’s intransigence, based on the democratic mandate earned from his landslide victory in the leadership election last September, and the firm resolve among MPs to unseat the leader, had meant that progress was impossible. | But the deputy Labour leader appeared to suggest that Corbyn’s intransigence, based on the democratic mandate earned from his landslide victory in the leadership election last September, and the firm resolve among MPs to unseat the leader, had meant that progress was impossible. |
| He said: “I felt we made significant progress during those talks, which were designed to find a solution to the impasse the party finds itself in. It is my strong belief that those discussions could have formed a basis for further talks with union representatives. | He said: “I felt we made significant progress during those talks, which were designed to find a solution to the impasse the party finds itself in. It is my strong belief that those discussions could have formed a basis for further talks with union representatives. |
| “However, since the talks began, Jeremy has publicly declared his intention to continue as leader come what may. This means there is no realistic prospect of reaching a compromise that satisfies the majority of colleagues in the PLP.” | “However, since the talks began, Jeremy has publicly declared his intention to continue as leader come what may. This means there is no realistic prospect of reaching a compromise that satisfies the majority of colleagues in the PLP.” |
| Labour party sources said that both Eagle and Owen may launch campaigns to be leader on Monday. | Labour party sources said that both Eagle and Owen may launch campaigns to be leader on Monday. |
| Corbyn’s leadership was plunged into crisis after Britain’s vote to the leave the EU in the referendum last month, with large numbers of his shadow cabinet resigning and publicly stating they had no confidence in his leadership. | |
| The mass departure of senior cabinet ministers came after Hilary Benn, the former shadow foreign minister, was sacked for his alleged involvement in a coup against the leader. A series of tense meetings of the PLP have been held in subsequent weeks but the challenge has faltered following Corby’s refusal to stand down. |