The local branch of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) branded the challenge to Mr Corbyn’s leadership as a “coup” and condemned St Helens North MP Conor McGinn’s support for challenger Owen Smith.
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Labour party leader Jeremy Corbynlistens during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, London.
His comments follow an extraordinary claim from Mr McGinn, who said Mr Corbyn considered calling his father – a Sinn Fein councillor – in an effort to “bully” him following critical comments the MP made in a magazine interview.
Ms Rimmer said: “Over the last few months I have witnessed a great schism in the party develop and grow wider and wider”.
The Conservative government is planning constituency boundary changes and Mr Corbyn said that the changes could come into effect before the next general election, which is due in 2020.
He nevertheless remains popular with numerous rank-and-file party members who ultimately elect the leader and is the favorite with bookmakers to win the leadership contest, the result of which will be announced on September 24.
“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”.
But he threatened all his MPs would face an “open selection process” in every constituency “throughout the whole UK” when the boundaries are redrawn in 2018.
Mr Corbyn said Mr Smith is “very welcome” back in his Shadow Cabinet should he emerge victorious later this year.
“I’m a committed devolutionist”, he said, saying he thinks devolution should be extended across England.
Corbyn, who launched his leadership campaign earlier on Thursday, also said securing access to European markets would be a key party of any Brexit deal, but he also wanted to see some freedom of movement retained. New members, however, won’t be able to cast their ballot, as eligible voters need to have been in the Labour Party since before January 12.
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. I regret the language that’s been used, by all of them.
Mr Smith has also accused Mr Corbyn of “sloganising” and of being good at identifying problems but not solutions.
“The truth is numerous people who are heaping abuse on people are Jeremy’s supporters”.
“Today, we are more than 45 years on from the Equal Pay Act, 40 years on from when I was chasing down lost pay for women workers and still, still, women are paid 20 per cent less than men.”
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Master McCloud heard that Mr Foster’s legal action sought to reverse this decision so that Mr Corbyn would not be eligible to stand as a candidate unless he secured the requisite number of nominations in the time limited by the rules.
