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Ken Livingstone tips John McDonnell as Corbyn’s successor

Although Jeremy Corbyn has only been Labour leader since September, there has been much talk from various fractions of the party about who might succeed him. While many Blairites hope someone like Dan Jarvis or Chuka Umunna will be next, Ken Livingstone has now offered his prediction.

In an interview with Sam Delaney — on Russia Today — the former Mayor of London says that if Corbyn were killed tomorrow, it would be John McDonnell who would become Labour leader:

‘If Jeremy was pushed under a bus being driven by Boris Johnson, it would all rally behind John McDonnell. Because John, like Jeremy, like me, he’s been in this game for 45 years.

[He’s] always been serious, always been principled, never gone sucking up to Blair going “please give us a job” or anything like that. And so, no. It would be John.’

Given that McDonnell has tried and failed to stand for Labour leader twice — failing to get enough MPs to back him — Mr S thinks that Livingstone had best hope nothing happens to Corbyn anytime soon.

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