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Labour calls for inquiry into civil service claim that Corbyn is 'too frail' Labour calls for inquiry into civil service claim that Corbyn is 'too frail'
(about 1 hour later)
Labour has written to the head of the civil service to request an independent investigation into anonymous warnings leaked to a newspaper that claimed Jeremy Corbyn could be too frail to function as prime minister.Labour has written to the head of the civil service to request an independent investigation into anonymous warnings leaked to a newspaper that claimed Jeremy Corbyn could be too frail to function as prime minister.
Jon Trickett, Labour’s shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, told the cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill, that the comments amounted to a “totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention, with disturbing implications for our democratic system”. Jon Trickett, the shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, told the cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill, that the comments amounted to a “totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention, with disturbing implications for our democratic system”.
Corbyn and his party have rejected the claims made in the Times on Saturday, which said that, at a recent event, senior civil servants discussed their worries about what might happen if the Labour leader became prime minister. Corbyn and his party have rejected the claims made in the Times on Saturday, which said that, at a recent event, senior civil servants had discussed their worries about what might happen if the Labour leader became prime minister.
The report cited anonymous senior civil servants who warned that they were concerned about Corbyn being put into Downing Street after an election as he seemed to lack a firm grasp of issues and was being “propped up” by his advisers.The report cited anonymous senior civil servants who warned that they were concerned about Corbyn being put into Downing Street after an election as he seemed to lack a firm grasp of issues and was being “propped up” by his advisers.
Civil servants handling no-deal plans offered mental health supportCivil servants handling no-deal plans offered mental health support
One was quoted as saying: “There is a real worry that the Labour leader isn’t up to the job physically or mentally but is being propped up by those around him. There’s growing concern that he’s too frail and is losing his memory. He’s not in charge of his own party.”One was quoted as saying: “There is a real worry that the Labour leader isn’t up to the job physically or mentally but is being propped up by those around him. There’s growing concern that he’s too frail and is losing his memory. He’s not in charge of his own party.”
Corbyn has called for an investigation, saying it was “very concerning” for officials to brief against an elected politician.Corbyn has called for an investigation, saying it was “very concerning” for officials to brief against an elected politician.
In his letter to Sedwill, Trickett wrote: “Discussion of these matters, based on false assumptions, should not be taking place. Worse, it is without precedent in my experience that any high-level discussion about senior politicians, let alone the leader of the opposition, should be shared with a newspaper.In his letter to Sedwill, Trickett wrote: “Discussion of these matters, based on false assumptions, should not be taking place. Worse, it is without precedent in my experience that any high-level discussion about senior politicians, let alone the leader of the opposition, should be shared with a newspaper.
“I must now formally say to you that it is hard to avoid the conclusion that this has been a totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention with disturbing implications for our democratic system.“I must now formally say to you that it is hard to avoid the conclusion that this has been a totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention with disturbing implications for our democratic system.
“There clearly needs to be an investigation into what appears to have been a breach of civil service neutrality, independent of the Cabinet Office, in order to avoid any real or apparent conflicts of interest.”“There clearly needs to be an investigation into what appears to have been a breach of civil service neutrality, independent of the Cabinet Office, in order to avoid any real or apparent conflicts of interest.”
Trickett also said he wanted a meeting with Sedwill to discuss the matter, and to get “clear assurances that the basic principles of British public life will not be undermined”.Trickett also said he wanted a meeting with Sedwill to discuss the matter, and to get “clear assurances that the basic principles of British public life will not be undermined”.
Earlier on Sunday Len McCluskey, the leader of the Unite union and a close associate of Corbyn, told BBC One’s Andrew Marr show that he believed the comments could have been entirely made up by the journalists concerned.Earlier on Sunday Len McCluskey, the leader of the Unite union and a close associate of Corbyn, told BBC One’s Andrew Marr show that he believed the comments could have been entirely made up by the journalists concerned.
“They ought to be ashamed of themselves,” he said. “It was fake news, it was lies, it was distortion. “They ought to be ashamed of themselves,” he said. “It was fake news. It was lies. It was distortion.
“Jeremy Corbyn is fit as a fiddle, he is one of the strongest people I have ever met – people 20 years younger struggle to keep up with him. I don’t believe them at all – it’s the Murdoch press, of course they are going to attack and try to undermine Jeremy.” “Jeremy Corbyn is fit as a fiddle. He is one of the strongest people I have ever met – people 20 years younger struggle to keep up with him. I don’t believe them at all. It’s the Murdoch press. Of course they are going to attack and try to undermine Jeremy.”
LabourLabour
Jeremy CorbynJeremy Corbyn
Civil serviceCivil service
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