Relations between the deputy leader of the Labour party, Tom Watson, and Jeremy Corbyn have reached something of a nadir in recent weeks. After a group of MPs left the party to form the Independent Group, Watson called on Labour to do more to tackle anti-Semitism within its ranks, and has continued to pile pressure on the leadership over its handling of the issue.
Watson was on the airwaves this morning, to speak about the suspension of Chris Williamson and the state of the party more generally. But even for his standards, he struggled to display any enthusiasm about Labour’s current leader.
Asked by the Today programme presenter Nick Robinson, what should be a simple question for a deputy leader: is Jeremy Corbyn fit to be be Prime Minister? Watson could only reply (after a long pause):
‘He could easily be Prime Minister, but of course people… you know we could do without the anti-Semitism.
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