On Wednesday night he reacted angrily to claims by fellow Labour MP Diane Abbott on Newsnight that he, along other Labour MPs who had resigned from the frontbench, was a “career politician” who simply wasn’t used to Jeremy Corbyn’s new style of leadership.
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He told BBC 2’s Daily Politics: “I’m not quite sure why he’s been reshuffled, what exactly his sin was”.
Jonathan Reynolds and Stephen Doughty left over the sacking of Europe spokesman Pat McFadden, which revolved around what a party source speaking on condition of anonymity called his “disloyalty”. Jones said there was “nothing straightforward or honest” about the way in which the changes were made. It’s been spun this morning that somehow she wanted to go to a dream job at DCMS (culture). She did not want to move.
Final details of Mr Corbyn’s reshuffle – the first since he became leader in September – emerged late in the evening.
He added: “I have enjoyed the role a great deal and particularly the discussions I have had with you personally”.
Eagle has now been replaced with Emily Thornberry, who agrees with Corbyn on opposing Trident.
“She said: “(I have) absolutely no idea where (the speculation) came from. “So did Tom Watson”.
“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Labour Party holding the Government to account, but more importantly having an input into Labour’s offer for local government”.
Another member of the shadow cabinet, culture spokesman Michael Dugher, was also sacked.
He said it would be “suicide” to launch an attack on Russian Federation, saying the United Kingdom only had “enough to start a war, not to win a war”.
He kept on Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary who openly opposed Corbyn in backing a British air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria. “Never going to go”, the shadow chancellor said.
McDonnell said, however, that Benn would now have to keep step with Corbyn’s views.
Former front bencher Chuka Umunna said: “A big loss”.
The Tories were itching to bring up the Labour reshuffle.
Trident supporter Maria Eagle was moved from the shadow defence secretary brief to replace Dugher.
“There were issues where there has been undermining of his leadership and not accepting his mandate from the party members that he received in the election”.
In response to the news of Mr Dugher being sacked, deputy leader Tom Watson has issued a statement praising his contributions to the party.
More resignations could follow as Labour struggles to remain united. I’m afraid I don’t have confidence that will be the case.
McDonnell said Mr Corbyn was trying to “hold everyone together but be very clear about our direction of travel in terms of policy”.
It was “pretty disgraceful conduct from the leader of a party that seeks to govern”, he said.
Mr Benn is due to speak for the Opposition later when the Commons discusses United Kingdom relations with Saudi Arabia. Labour is not that credible alternative.
“Those would not be policies I could support. It would have been great to have Kevan, but we don’t”. I talk to people when that comes out. My father was a peacekeeper.
“It doesn’t strike me as particularly principled, but that’s entirely his decision, but it’s a decision that doesn’t make much sense on that basis that he gave”.
Mr Dugher, who was among those who last month backed United Kingdom military action in Syria after Mr Corbyn was forced to allow a free vote, had warned Mr Corbyn he would end up with a “politburo of seven” if he reshuffled left-wing allies into top jobs.
“All is not lost”.
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Mr Corbyn could otherwise have again found himself at loggerheads with the shadow minister supposed to be presenting the party’s position in Parliament.
