Labour MPs have been calling on Corbyn to stand down, accusing him of poor leadership in the EU Remain campaign.
Advertisement
Mr Smith, the former shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, and only challenger to Corbyn is very concerned about the future of the party which is “teetering on the brink of extinction” and could even disappear form the political landscape if it splits after the leadership contest.
Although most Labour MPs supported a “no confidence” motion against their own leader, Corbyn was elected by a large majority by Labour members and is ahead in the polls to be re-elected, to the despair of many of his more centrist MPs.
Speaking at the launch of his campaign to hold onto the leadership, Mr Corbyn had a laugh at Pontypridd MP Mr Smith’s expense. “So there would be a full and open selection process for every constituency Labour party throughout the whole of the United Kingdom”.
“We need to have a strong and united Labour Party so that we can be a good opposition, take the fight to the Conservative government and heal our country”.
There has been a series of incidents in which female MPs critical of Mr Corbyn have been threatened with rape, urged to commit suicide and received death threats.
“Jeremy, in deliberations about how to respond to my interview, had said that he meant to ring my father to discuss it with him and ask him to speak to me about it”, said McGinn.
“It is the duty and the responsibility of every Labour MP to get behind the party at that point… for the different, fairer, kinder Britain we can build together”. “I think that is going to be impossible within the single market”.
He stressed all Labour MPs would have to apply for reselection for their seats after a constituency boundary review expected to be completed in two years’ time.
Jezza insisted he would tackle “injustices” surrounding inequality, neglect, insecurity, prejudice and discrimination – which he described as the “five ills” of 21st century Britain.
Critics will claim, however, that Mr Corbyn’s poor performance in the Euro-referendum campaign is to blame for United Kingdom workers losing the protection from discrimination at work that is provided in European Union laws.
“I regret the language that has been used by all of them”.
As for his former frontbencher Smith, Corbyn guaranteed he’d be welcome back to the shadow cabinet “because that has got to be the right way of doing things”.
Advertisement
“I don’t think he feels he can bring the party back together, that’s why he’s talking about re-selections because I think he is reconciled”.
