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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Labour leadership: Andy Burnham keeps door open for Jeremy Corbyn | Labour leadership: Andy Burnham keeps door open for Jeremy Corbyn |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham has said he “might be open” to giving his rival Jeremy Corbyn a position in his shadow cabinet if he were to win the contest. | Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham has said he “might be open” to giving his rival Jeremy Corbyn a position in his shadow cabinet if he were to win the contest. |
| When asked at a BBC hustings on Sunday if he would give a position to the most leftwing of the four candidates, he replied: “If he wants a job.” Though Burnham added that the role of shadow chancellor might not be fitting because of Corbyn’s views on austerity. | When asked at a BBC hustings on Sunday if he would give a position to the most leftwing of the four candidates, he replied: “If he wants a job.” Though Burnham added that the role of shadow chancellor might not be fitting because of Corbyn’s views on austerity. |
| Fellow leadership hopeful Liz Kendall, who is considered the most centrist candidate, appeared surprised at Burnham’s comments during an acrimonious hustings on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show. “Would you really have Jeremy in your shadow cabinet?” she asked Burnham. | Fellow leadership hopeful Liz Kendall, who is considered the most centrist candidate, appeared surprised at Burnham’s comments during an acrimonious hustings on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show. “Would you really have Jeremy in your shadow cabinet?” she asked Burnham. |
| “Well, I think he’s said things in this contest that are important and that people have responded to, clearly,” he replied. “I think the Labour party has got to come back together after this leadership contest.” | “Well, I think he’s said things in this contest that are important and that people have responded to, clearly,” he replied. “I think the Labour party has got to come back together after this leadership contest.” |
| Related: Ghosts of the Labour party’s past – and hopes for its future | Letters | |
| Speaking after the hustings, a spokesperson for Burnham claimed the leadership hopeful had been joking: “Although he wants unity after election, he can’t envisage any circumstances where Corbyn would be on his front bench.” | Speaking after the hustings, a spokesperson for Burnham claimed the leadership hopeful had been joking: “Although he wants unity after election, he can’t envisage any circumstances where Corbyn would be on his front bench.” |
| Leaked polling seen by the New Statesman earlier this week had Corbyn – who made it on to the ballot after MPs nominated him to ensure a wider debate – ahead in the first round of voting. He has the highest number of constituency Labour party nominations, with 70 to Burnham’s 68. | Leaked polling seen by the New Statesman earlier this week had Corbyn – who made it on to the ballot after MPs nominated him to ensure a wider debate – ahead in the first round of voting. He has the highest number of constituency Labour party nominations, with 70 to Burnham’s 68. |
| On Monday, parliament will vote on the government’s welfare bill, which the acting Labour leader, Harriet Harman, announced last Sunday the party would not be blocking, much to the fury of many of her colleagues. | On Monday, parliament will vote on the government’s welfare bill, which the acting Labour leader, Harriet Harman, announced last Sunday the party would not be blocking, much to the fury of many of her colleagues. |
| Harman tried to defuse a rebellion over welfare by tabling an amendment setting out why the party disagrees with the government’s proposed bill, after Helen Goodman, the MP for Bishop Auckland, tabled a backbench amendment opposing the bill. | Harman tried to defuse a rebellion over welfare by tabling an amendment setting out why the party disagrees with the government’s proposed bill, after Helen Goodman, the MP for Bishop Auckland, tabled a backbench amendment opposing the bill. |
| Burnham this week called for Labour to oppose the welfare bill if a reasoned amendment was defeated, even though the official party line is to abstain. | Burnham this week called for Labour to oppose the welfare bill if a reasoned amendment was defeated, even though the official party line is to abstain. |
| In Sunday’s hustings, Yvette Cooper, Burnham and Corbyn repeated their opposition to a measure in the bill that would limit child tax credits to two children per family, which Harman said the party should support, something with which Kendall agrees. | In Sunday’s hustings, Yvette Cooper, Burnham and Corbyn repeated their opposition to a measure in the bill that would limit child tax credits to two children per family, which Harman said the party should support, something with which Kendall agrees. |
| Kendall clashed with Corbyn over the crisis in Greece, with Kendall saying the pair’s politics were not “anything like the same”. | Kendall clashed with Corbyn over the crisis in Greece, with Kendall saying the pair’s politics were not “anything like the same”. |
| “Look at the victims of what the European Central Bank is doing to Greece, the poverty, the unemployment ...,” said Corbyn. “You don’t have to tell me about the people who are suffering in Greece,” interjected Kendall. “Can I finish?” Corbyn shouted back. | “Look at the victims of what the European Central Bank is doing to Greece, the poverty, the unemployment ...,” said Corbyn. “You don’t have to tell me about the people who are suffering in Greece,” interjected Kendall. “Can I finish?” Corbyn shouted back. |
| “I think there is a challenge for centre-left parties across Europe on the one hand avoiding the ever-increasing austerity that sees people left behind and, I have to say, the kind of fantasy politics of Syriza that would see us out of government for a generation,” argued Kendall. | “I think there is a challenge for centre-left parties across Europe on the one hand avoiding the ever-increasing austerity that sees people left behind and, I have to say, the kind of fantasy politics of Syriza that would see us out of government for a generation,” argued Kendall. |
| “Liz, can I help you on this?” Corbyn responded. “The problem for centre-left parties is that where they’ve implemented austerity – in Spain, France, Italy, Greece – they’ve lost office, in some cases, lost a lot of members and lost influence. There’s a whole generation out there that does not accept the orthodox economics of austerity and are looking for something different.” | “Liz, can I help you on this?” Corbyn responded. “The problem for centre-left parties is that where they’ve implemented austerity – in Spain, France, Italy, Greece – they’ve lost office, in some cases, lost a lot of members and lost influence. There’s a whole generation out there that does not accept the orthodox economics of austerity and are looking for something different.” |