JEREMY Corbyn is set to knife Labour rebel Hilary Benn in the back by demoting him in a “revenge reshuffle”.
The Labour leader is due to dump him this week from his prestigious role as Shadow Foreign Secretary.
He will be offered a new post but it would be a humiliating climbdown, and he is expected to hold crunch talks about whether to accept or walk away.
It comes after Mr Benn’s impassioned speech in the Commons backing Syrian air strikes was lauded as one of the greatest in Parliament’s history.
But he was one of a dozen rebels who stopped Mr Corbyn from insisting his party was united against strikes.
Corbyn’s former lover and Shadow International Development Secretary Diane Abbott could replace Benn.
Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle, who opposes Mr Corbyn’s views on Trident, may also be moved.
A source said last night: “What message does it send about the new politics if Hilary Benn and Maria Eagle are not safe?”
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But another source said not to expect wholesale changes in the reshuffle.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said Mr Benn has a “role to play” but it would be up to Mr Corbyn.
The reshuffle comes less than four months after Mr Corbyn became leader and appointed his key figures.
Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle, Shadow Culture Secretary Michael Dugher and Shadow Northern Ireland spokesman Vernon Coaker could all be facing the axe.
Labour whip Grahame Morris had tweeted Mr Corbyn should start 2016 by “getting rid of the mutineers”.
Meanwhile Chief Whip Rosie Winterton, who was made a Dame in the Queen’s New Year Honours, will stay in her position.
And Shadow Employment Minister Emily Thornberry, branded “snobby” over a 2014 white van man tweet, could be promoted.