The Shadow Cabinet fightback is on. After Hilary Benn appeared on the Andrew Marr Show to set out the reasons for a no confidence vote in Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell has appeared on the Sunday Politics to make the case for the Labour leader.
While Benn — along with a growing list of MPs who have today resigned from the front bench — argued that Corbyn is not up to being leader, McDonnell has reminded MPs of his mandate. ‘Jeremy’s not going anywhere,’ the shadow chancellor told Andrew Neil. ‘He was elected nine months ago, the biggest mandate of any political leader in our country, and he is not going anywhere.’
McDonnell has also attempted to put an end to speculation that he could succeed Corbyn. He has vowed not to run, instead promising to run Corbyn’s campaign again in the event of a leadership election: ‘if Jeremy has to stand for another leadership election, I will chair his campaign and I think the Labour Party members will elect him again’.
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