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Liz Kendall: choosing Jeremy Corbyn would be Labour's resignation letter Liz Kendall: choosing Jeremy Corbyn would be Labour's resignation letter
(about 1 hour later)
Labour will be submitting its “resignation letter to the British people as a serious party of government” if it elects Jeremy Corbyn as leader, Liz Kendall said on Friday. Labour will be submitting its “resignation letter to the British people as a serious party of government” if it elects Jeremy Corbyn as leader, Liz Kendall has said.
Kendall, in an interview on the BBC argued that Corbyn – the leftwinger who has become the surprise runaway favourite in the party’s election – was advocating policies that would lead to certain electoral defeat for Labour. In an interview on the BBC, Kendall argued that Corbyn – the leftwinger who has become the surprise runaway favourite in the party’s leadership election – was advocating policies that would lead to certain electoral defeat for Labour.
“He [Corbyn] is not offering anything new. His programme isn’t new, it’s exactly the same as it was in the 1980s and we’ll get the same result,” said Kendall, who is seen as the most Blairite of the four leadership contenders and on course to come last, according to the polls. “He is not offering anything new. His programme isn’t new, it’s exactly the same as it was in the 1980s and we’ll get the same result,” said Kendall, who is seen as the most Blairite of the four leadership contenders and on course to come last, according to the polls.
“I don’t want to see Labour submit our resignation letter to the British people as a serious party of government.”“I don’t want to see Labour submit our resignation letter to the British people as a serious party of government.”
Kendall spoke as Labour prepared to send out the first ballot papers in the election. Kendall spoke as Labour prepared to send out the first ballot papers in the election. It was revealed this week that more than 600,000 people could vote in the contest, because of a last-minute surge in the numbers signing up as registered supporters and trade union affiliates.
It was revealed this week that more than 600,000 people could vote in the contest, because of a last-minute surge in the numbers signing up as registered supporters and trade union affiliates. In her interview for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Kendall also suggested that Corbyn – who was due to unveil a 10-point policy priority list in a speech in Edinburgh on Friday – could support Britain leaving the EU.
In her interview for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Kendall also suggested that Corbyn – who was due to unveil a 10-point policy priority list at a speech in Edinburgh on Friday – could support Britain leaving the EU. “I was at a hustings in Warrington where he was explicitly asked: ‘Would you rule out voting no to Britain staying in the European Union?’ And he said no, he wouldn’t rule it out,” she said.
“I was at a hustings in Warrington where he was explicitly asked, ‘Would you rule out voting no to Britain staying in the European Union?’ And he said no he wouldn’t rule it out,” she said. After that hustings Corbyn clarified his position, saying his preference was for Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
After that hustings Corbyn, who is launching his Standing to Deliver plan in Scotland, clarified his position, saying his preference was for Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
Corbyn’s rivals, who for weeks were relatively restrained in their remarks about him, have become increasingly outspoken about the threat they claim he poses to Labour’s future in the light of fresh polling suggesting he is extending his huge lead in the contest.Corbyn’s rivals, who for weeks were relatively restrained in their remarks about him, have become increasingly outspoken about the threat they claim he poses to Labour’s future in the light of fresh polling suggesting he is extending his huge lead in the contest.
Kendall spoke out a day after Yvette Cooper, another leadership candidate, devoted most of a speech in Manchester to a hard-hitting critique of Corbyn’s policies, particularly on the economy, which she dubbed dishonest and not credible. On Thursday Yvette Cooper, another leadership candidate, devoted most of a speech in Manchester to a hard-hitting critique of Corbyn’s policies, particularly on the economy, which she dubbed dishonest and not credible.
It is thought that the surge in the number of people signing up to vote has boosted his chances, because polling suggests people in these groups – registered supporters and trade union affiliates – are even more pro-Corbyn than ordinary party members. It is thought that the surge in the number of people signing up to vote has boosted Corbyn’s chances, because polling suggests people in these groups – registered supporters and trade union affiliates – are even more pro-Corbyn than ordinary party members.
According to the Times, in the light of the new figures and what they say about the composition of the electorate, YouGov has revised the implications of its latest poll, and now estimates that Corbyn is on course to win with 57% of first-preference votes.According to the Times, in the light of the new figures and what they say about the composition of the electorate, YouGov has revised the implications of its latest poll, and now estimates that Corbyn is on course to win with 57% of first-preference votes.
In her Today interview, Kendall urged her supporters to use their second and third preferences to try to stop Corbyn winning. But that would have no impact on the result if Corbyn wins on the first ballot, as the YouGov figures suggest he might, because second and third preferences would be irrelevant.In her Today interview, Kendall urged her supporters to use their second and third preferences to try to stop Corbyn winning. But that would have no impact on the result if Corbyn wins on the first ballot, as the YouGov figures suggest he might, because second and third preferences would be irrelevant.
On Newsnight on Thursday Cooper warned that the party could split if Corbyn won. On Newsnight on Thursday, Cooper warned that the party could split if Corbyn won. “I think there is a serious risk that the party will split, will polarise and I cannot bear to see that happen because there is too much at stake,” she said. Cooper said the contest was a “battle not just for the soul of the party but it is a battle for all the people we should be standing up for”.
“I think there is a serious risk that the party will split, will polarise and I cannot bear to see that happen because there is too much at stake,” she said. She said the contest was a “battle not just for the soul of the party but it is a battle for all the people we should be standing up for”.
Kendall told Today on Friday that she did not think the party would split.Kendall told Today on Friday that she did not think the party would split.
The Conservative party claims Corbyn’s policies would cost every working household £2,431 because of the unfunded spending commitments he has made, the Daily Telegraph reports. According to the Tory figures, Cooper’s policies would cost families £1,385, Kendall’s £1,023 and Andy Burnham’s £1,409. The Conservative party claims Corbyn’s policies would cost every working household £2,431 because of the unfunded spending commitments he has made, the Daily Telegraph reported. According to the Tory figures, Cooper’s policies would cost families £1,385, Kendall’s £1,023 and Andy Burnham’s £1,409.
Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has welcomed the rise of Corbyn. Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has welcomed the rise of Corbyn. In an article for the Breitbart website, Farage said: “Whilst I have absolutely no faith in the wisdom of his economics, his victory is seriously good news for the no campaign in the forthcoming EU referendum.
In an article for the Breitbart website, Farage said: “Whilst I have absolutely no faith in the wisdom of his economics, his victory is seriously good news for the no campaign in the forthcoming EU referendum.
“Under Corbyn, there will be a debate about TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership], about the way Greece has been treated, and about the role of national parliaments and democracy.“Under Corbyn, there will be a debate about TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership], about the way Greece has been treated, and about the role of national parliaments and democracy.
“I have no idea which side of the fence Mr Corbyn himself will come down on, but I feel the left is finally waking up to what a corporatist, big business club the EU really is.“I have no idea which side of the fence Mr Corbyn himself will come down on, but I feel the left is finally waking up to what a corporatist, big business club the EU really is.
“I have to say I hope he wins. The best news of all? A Corbyn win will be the death of the Green party. Hooray.”“I have to say I hope he wins. The best news of all? A Corbyn win will be the death of the Green party. Hooray.”