Jeremy Corbyn makes another veiled threat to his own MPs saying the ‘vast majority’ have nothing to fear from deselection
Newly-victorious leader again stopped short of ruling out the possibility that some may lose their seats
JEREMY Corbyn was yesterday accused of giving the green light to a bloody purge of moderate Labour MPs that will give the hard left total control.
The newly re-elected Labour boss refused to block the threatened de-selection of rebel MPs who have spoken out against his rule.
His stand infuriated defeated moderates, who accused him of shattering a peace with them that lasted less than 24 hours.
Mr Corbyn had promised to heal the bitter schism between the party’s two wings after winning the leadership contest by another landslide on Saturday.
But instead, he let slip for the first time that his most bitter critics have much to fear from the automatic reselection for every MP because of constituency boundary changes.
Quizzed on the BBC1’s Andrew Marr Programme yesterday to rule out de-selections, Mr Corbyn would only say "the vast majority of Labour MPs have no problem whatsoever" with the upcoming votes.
In contrast, the Tory party has already promised a “nobody left behind” strategy to ensure all Conservative MPs get to fight for a Commons seat in 2020 when the Commons reduces size by 50 MPs.
Moderate Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “There has been a lot of talk about uniting from Jeremy, but the one thing he could have done – end deselection – he has failed to.
“It is always the case with Jeremy Corbyn that he does one thing, while allowing his supporters to do another.
“It’s hardly peace in our time.”
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In another blow to moderates, Labour’s ruling body – its National Executive Committee – delayed any decision on whether to bring back elections for the shadow cabinet until November.
Deputy Leader Tom Watson wants Mr Corbyn to share the power to appoint the party’s frontbench with MPs as an olive branch.
But the Labour boss is refusing to budge.
Mr Corbyn must agree to "the majority of shadow cabinet" being elected by Labour MPs as proof he is ready to compromise, former shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said.
Only then would senior MPs want to return to his frontbench, she insisted.
Labour MPs also pleaded with moderate members not to dessert the party after Mr Corbyn’s re-election.
They are terrified that many centre ground activists will drift away from the party now.
Former leadership hopeful Yvette Cooper insisted: “This is their party too and we want to show them that”.
The Lib Dems announced more than 300 people joined their party on Saturday as Mr Corbyn won the contest, and more than 1,000 have signed up in the last week.
The last Labour leader Ed Miliband called for his party to unite behind Jeremy Corbyn and to support Brexit.
He said: "We the Labour Party have to speak to people who voted leave." Mr Miliband also called on the party to accept the result and negotiate in "good faith".