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| Labour factions battle on over shadow cabinet appointments | Labour factions battle on over shadow cabinet appointments |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn’s allies have proposed a system under which the leader would appoint his own shadow cabinet and then put the entire team to a vote of Labour MPs, the Guardian understands. | Jeremy Corbyn’s allies have proposed a system under which the leader would appoint his own shadow cabinet and then put the entire team to a vote of Labour MPs, the Guardian understands. |
| The idea was put forward during late-night talks at which senior party figures, including Labour’s chief whip, Rosie Winterton, and the PLP chair, John Cryer, tried to hammer out a “peace plan” under which some MPs would return to Corbyn’s denuded frontbench. | The idea was put forward during late-night talks at which senior party figures, including Labour’s chief whip, Rosie Winterton, and the PLP chair, John Cryer, tried to hammer out a “peace plan” under which some MPs would return to Corbyn’s denuded frontbench. |
| The discussions are aimed at breaking a deadlock between MPs and the leader, who was re-elected with a bigger share of the party vote over the weekend, but who still has more than 60 unfilled spaces on his frontbench since the mass shadow cabinet walkout in June. | The discussions are aimed at breaking a deadlock between MPs and the leader, who was re-elected with a bigger share of the party vote over the weekend, but who still has more than 60 unfilled spaces on his frontbench since the mass shadow cabinet walkout in June. |
| However, MPs have rejected the latest idea, according to sources close to the negotiations. Earlier this month the parliamentary Labour party voted overwhelmingly in favour of shadow cabinet elections. | However, MPs have rejected the latest idea, according to sources close to the negotiations. Earlier this month the parliamentary Labour party voted overwhelmingly in favour of shadow cabinet elections. |
| Corbyn had initially been open to the idea of elections but wanted members to be involved in them. However, members of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) were reluctant about the idea because of the cost and it is understood to have progressed no further. | Corbyn had initially been open to the idea of elections but wanted members to be involved in them. However, members of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) were reluctant about the idea because of the cost and it is understood to have progressed no further. |
| The leader has been resisting a counter-proposal under which two-thirds of the shadow cabinet positions would be filled by elections of MPs, while a third would be appointed. His fear is that he would end up surrounded by a team hostile to his leadership. Three-quarters of MPs backed a vote of no confidence in him earlier in the summer. | The leader has been resisting a counter-proposal under which two-thirds of the shadow cabinet positions would be filled by elections of MPs, while a third would be appointed. His fear is that he would end up surrounded by a team hostile to his leadership. Three-quarters of MPs backed a vote of no confidence in him earlier in the summer. |
| Corbyn’s team know that he will need a strong shadow cabinet in parliament but are reluctant for him to make too many concessions after his convincing victory over Owen Smith, and believe that a number of MPs are ready to join the top team soon after the party conference. | Corbyn’s team know that he will need a strong shadow cabinet in parliament but are reluctant for him to make too many concessions after his convincing victory over Owen Smith, and believe that a number of MPs are ready to join the top team soon after the party conference. |
| Alison McGovern – the chair of Progress, which fights for Labour to be a centrist party – is thought to be considering stepping forward. MPs such as Dan Jarvis, the former director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, and Jonathan Reynolds have also been named as possibilities. | Alison McGovern – the chair of Progress, which fights for Labour to be a centrist party – is thought to be considering stepping forward. MPs such as Dan Jarvis, the former director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, and Jonathan Reynolds have also been named as possibilities. |
| Jarvis is thought to be willing to enter Corbyn’s shadow cabinet and optimistic that could happen through at least partial elections. Jarvis, who kept a low profile during the leadership election, is understood to be more hesitant about whether he could serve if appointed. Corbyn’s team have not offered him any role so far. Fears over a “hard Brexit” are the main motive for MPs who are mulling entering the fold, in order to properly scrutinise the details of any pre-exit deal. | Jarvis is thought to be willing to enter Corbyn’s shadow cabinet and optimistic that could happen through at least partial elections. Jarvis, who kept a low profile during the leadership election, is understood to be more hesitant about whether he could serve if appointed. Corbyn’s team have not offered him any role so far. Fears over a “hard Brexit” are the main motive for MPs who are mulling entering the fold, in order to properly scrutinise the details of any pre-exit deal. |
| Another option being considered is some form of “advisory” ballot of Labour MPs, which was put forward by the former Labour MP Nick Palmer. He has argued that “binding the hands of the leader is unrealistic, not least as if elected to Downing Street the leader can appoint anyone they like”. | Another option being considered is some form of “advisory” ballot of Labour MPs, which was put forward by the former Labour MP Nick Palmer. He has argued that “binding the hands of the leader is unrealistic, not least as if elected to Downing Street the leader can appoint anyone they like”. |
| Sources said Corbyn’s team was interested in the comments by Palmer on the LabourList website when he added: “Moreover, the MPs who have stuck by Jeremy and performed effectively in the Commons (John McDonnell, Angela Rayner and Rachael Maskell spring to mind, and there are plenty more) have earned the right not to be dumped at the first opportunity.” | Sources said Corbyn’s team was interested in the comments by Palmer on the LabourList website when he added: “Moreover, the MPs who have stuck by Jeremy and performed effectively in the Commons (John McDonnell, Angela Rayner and Rachael Maskell spring to mind, and there are plenty more) have earned the right not to be dumped at the first opportunity.” |
| But an indicative vote would reach out to the PLP, he added, allowing Corbyn to “see who would command their confidence best and include them in senior positions”. | But an indicative vote would reach out to the PLP, he added, allowing Corbyn to “see who would command their confidence best and include them in senior positions”. |
| The row came as the former shadow chancellor Ed Balls said that he feared that Labour “as it stands, is never going to be elected again”. | The row came as the former shadow chancellor Ed Balls said that he feared that Labour “as it stands, is never going to be elected again”. |
| Balls, currently a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing said of Corbyn: “I think he’s going to lead the party into the general election. I’m deeply fearful, but because this is where we are, and he’s been elected - he was challenged this summer, which may have been foolish, but it’s happened - that is now the direction things are going to take. And then people are going to have to stand back and say in the end , do you really think trying to win from the hard left is going to work in Britain?’ | Balls, currently a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing said of Corbyn: “I think he’s going to lead the party into the general election. I’m deeply fearful, but because this is where we are, and he’s been elected - he was challenged this summer, which may have been foolish, but it’s happened - that is now the direction things are going to take. And then people are going to have to stand back and say in the end , do you really think trying to win from the hard left is going to work in Britain?’ |
| “I think there’s no chance, but the Labour Party may have to go along this journey, and as a consequence we have a Conservative government which can get away with a great deal, without any proper opposition, and I think it’s bad for the public interests and for the country.” | “I think there’s no chance, but the Labour Party may have to go along this journey, and as a consequence we have a Conservative government which can get away with a great deal, without any proper opposition, and I think it’s bad for the public interests and for the country.” |
| Speaking to ITV’s the Agenda, Balls said he hoped Corbyn would bear in mind that many pre-2015 Labour members had backed Smith and wanted change. | Speaking to ITV’s the Agenda, Balls said he hoped Corbyn would bear in mind that many pre-2015 Labour members had backed Smith and wanted change. |
| The Labour leader is not only facing tension over the issue of shadow cabinet elections but is also locked in a struggle with the NEC about a package of party changes including new Scottish and Welsh committee seats. | The Labour leader is not only facing tension over the issue of shadow cabinet elections but is also locked in a struggle with the NEC about a package of party changes including new Scottish and Welsh committee seats. |
| Corbyn is supportive of representation for Scotland and Wales on the NEC but is opposed to the current deal under which frontbench politicians, such as the Labour leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale, will be offered the places. He would prefer members to be offered a vote. | Corbyn is supportive of representation for Scotland and Wales on the NEC but is opposed to the current deal under which frontbench politicians, such as the Labour leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale, will be offered the places. He would prefer members to be offered a vote. |
| The new places on the NEC are thought to be of far greater significance for the anti-Corbyn powerbase than shadow cabinet elections. All six new members elected to the NEC this year came from the left of the party, but the two new appointed Scottish and Welsh representatives will now make the committee evenly split between the two wings of the party. | The new places on the NEC are thought to be of far greater significance for the anti-Corbyn powerbase than shadow cabinet elections. All six new members elected to the NEC this year came from the left of the party, but the two new appointed Scottish and Welsh representatives will now make the committee evenly split between the two wings of the party. |
| That would make it less likely that the leadership would be able to achieve changes such as opening up policymaking decisions to the party’s membership and lowering the threshold for leadership nominations to make it easier for the most leftwing candidates to get on the ballot for future elections. | That would make it less likely that the leadership would be able to achieve changes such as opening up policymaking decisions to the party’s membership and lowering the threshold for leadership nominations to make it easier for the most leftwing candidates to get on the ballot for future elections. |
| Crucially, MPs on the NEC are determined not to allow rule changes that would permit open selections after boundary changes, which they fear could lead to Momentum-backed candidates standing against sitting MPs in a battle for the new constituencies. | Crucially, MPs on the NEC are determined not to allow rule changes that would permit open selections after boundary changes, which they fear could lead to Momentum-backed candidates standing against sitting MPs in a battle for the new constituencies. |
| Sadiq Khan is expected to make a speech to conference on Tuesday in which he will congratulate Corbyn but warn: “It’s only with Labour in power that we can create a fairer, more equal and more just Britain.” | Sadiq Khan is expected to make a speech to conference on Tuesday in which he will congratulate Corbyn but warn: “It’s only with Labour in power that we can create a fairer, more equal and more just Britain.” |
| The mayor of London will say the party’s leadership has been clearly decided but add: “Labour out of power will never, ever be good enough.” | The mayor of London will say the party’s leadership has been clearly decided but add: “Labour out of power will never, ever be good enough.” |
| In a message aimed directly at the leadership, which critics say is satisfied with opposition, Khan will praise the places where Labour is in power: London, Wales, Bristol and elsewhere. “Labour is in power in towns and cities the length and breadth of Britain,” he will say before calling for a “Labour government, a Labour prime minister in Downing Street, a Labour cabinet [and] Labour values put into action”. | In a message aimed directly at the leadership, which critics say is satisfied with opposition, Khan will praise the places where Labour is in power: London, Wales, Bristol and elsewhere. “Labour is in power in towns and cities the length and breadth of Britain,” he will say before calling for a “Labour government, a Labour prime minister in Downing Street, a Labour cabinet [and] Labour values put into action”. |