Jeremy Corbyn has promised to extend an olive branch to hostile Labour MPs – as two of his allies have suggested that the same people could be deselected.
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Responding to allegations that his supporters have infiltrated and taken over the party, Corbyn claimed: “It was a split in the Labour Party which caused the problem with the formation of the SDP”.
Mr Corbyn’s efforts at reconciliation with disaffected Labour MPs have been overshadowed by threats of deselection and suggestions members could be involved in picking the shadow cabinet.
Mr Watson said the NEC would discuss the MP-only plans, as well as other proposals which would see the shadow cabinet picked by a mix of members, the leader and MPs.
It is understood Mr Watson’s proposal would also allow the leader to retain the option to sack members of the shadow cabinet.
As a Labour Party supporter I’ve recently found myself supporting Owen Smith in the Labour Party contest for the new leader, not because I dislike Jeremy Corbyn but because of the stench of failure that he seems to have acquired.
Watson wants a deal agreed which can be voted on by next week’s party conference.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Watson declined to predict who would win Labour’s leadership election when the result is announced on Saturday.
Mr Smith told Sky’s Dermot Murnaghan that the leadership election has “potentially” strengthened Mr Corbyn’s position. Asked whether that would be a prelude to deselections of agitating MPs, Corbyn said: “There will be selections”.
“A lot of people say lots of things in the heat of the moment”, he explained.
It will be the last opportunity to get the issue on the agenda for the party conference in Liverpool next week.
“I am a Keynesian, not a Marxist like our current shadow chancellor, and prudent borrowing and government partnership with business to grow our economy is the answer, not a longed-for crisis in capitalism that destroys pay cheques and pensions en route to some fabled revolution”, he said.
It’s widely seen as a way of making it easier for MPs now opposed to Mr Corbyn to work with him.
She added: “But I would like to see us talk not just among ourselves, but talk with the public as unless we do that, we won’t be able to win elections”.
“I will continue to make these arguments – I am not going anywhere”, said Mr Smith, saying he was determined to make Labour “electable”.
Senior party figures, several from the soft left of the party, are believed to be considering a return to the shadow cabinet if they can be elected by their colleagues with a mandate of their own.
Mr Corbyn struck a conciliatory note on Monday, promising that, if he was confirmed as leader, he would “reach out” to Labour MPs who had rebelled against his leadership.
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He replied: “I hope Neil can be a bit more optimistic”.
