The leader’s campaign team, which issued the press release, later said it was a draft that had not been signed and was issued accidentally.
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The plans also potentially pit Mr Corbyn against two key allies in his shadow Cabinet – Ms Diane Abbott and Ms Emily Thornberry – who represent neighbouring seats and would have to be found new ones in the reduced number.
Mr Corbyn defended the list during a TV leadership debate last night, insisting their statements were already “on the public record”. “That isn’t unifying. That is deeply divisive”, he said.
Other anti-Corbyn MPs included on the list included Jamie Reed, Ian Austin and Tom Blenkinsop.
It also comes after the disclosure of moves by left-wing activists to de-select the veteran Liverpool MP Louise Ellman and a leaked document that named and shamed Labour MPs “disloyal” to Mr Corbyn.
Bermondsey MP Neil Coyle has gone further, announcing he is looking to take legal action against Corbyn.
Another MP, who did not wish to be named, said members would be “dismayed” by the “hit list”. “That’s Jeremy telling his trolls online to carry on”. I was furious about it to be frank and it was just at that time when we were really rebuilding our relationships very, very well throughout the summer.
“Five days to get the Labour Party into a position where it can face outwards and talk about the problems the country faces and the solutions we offer – not face inwards with talk about deselections and Red Tories and splits”. That’s just not true. “The only person who has done that is John McDonnell”.
Afterwards, a Labour source said it showed “how effective the party can be in opposition when it’s united”.
“Mr Woodcock tweeted: “‘Junior member of campaign team’ – oldest trick in book. “Shabby and deliberately targets colleagues for more abuse”.
The briefing from Mr Corbyn’s team accused Mr Smith of being the “real disunity candidate”, citing comments by Smith-supporting MPs Jess Phillips, Tristram Hunt and John Woodcock, as well as by Mr Watson.
Some of those organising Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign to win the ongoing Labour leadership election were reportedly upset that the list had been given to journalists.
The vote to replace Ms Butler comes amid nearly open warfare between Mr Corbyn’s supporters and Labour moderates in the run-up to the party’s annual conference at the end of the month.
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In their own words, these new Labour Organising Academies are meant to ‘deliver organising skills and training underpinned by Labour values to tens of thousands of members as we prepare for the next General Election.’ Corbyn supporters have always been vociferously enthusiastic, but they have tended to prefer rallies to door-knocking, social media to phone-banks.
