Michael Dugher MP, a former adviser to ex-Labour PM Gordon Brown, said: “I think she’ll be persuaded to seize the chance to go to the country sooner rather than later – maybe as early as October – if Jeremy Corbyn is still leader”.
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Sarah Champion, the MP for Rotherham, has retracted her resignation as shadow minister for preventing child abuse and domestic violence.
This was also echoed by Labour MPs as Mr Corbyn embarks on a fresh leadership bid with polls predicting an easy victory over Owen Smith.
They said: “We hope that others will rejoin the shadow cabinet and get on with the job of opposing Government”.
He has however held his position and will face former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith in a leadership election.
At the time, she said: ‘I can only do what I feel is right, even though it’s breaking my heart’.
She said: ‘I can assure you I’ve not joined any coup, I just think Jeremy’s position is no longer tenable if we’re to be effective’.
However, the survey by the Labour History Research Unit at Anglia Ruskin University uncovered very different results when councillors were asked how local members and supporters will vote in the leadership contest now underway.
A spokesperson for the party leader’s office confirmed to the Independent that Sarah Champion had asked to re-join the shadow cabinet, and that her request had been accepted.
More than 183,000 people paid the fee during the 48-hour window for such applications last week.
The BBC’s Norman Smith said it was an “extraordinary development”.
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In comparison, only 28% thought Labour members would vote for Mr Smith and a mere 10% thought registered supporters would do so.
