Jeremy Corbyn should REFUSE to quit even if he loses second election in a row, says union ally
A TOP union leader has said that Jeremy Corbyn should stay on as Labour leader even if he loses next week’s election. Len McCluskey, called for the left-winger to stay on for a “period of reflection” if he fails to grab the keys to Number 10. The Unite general secretary insisted that whatever the result […]
A TOP union leader has said that Jeremy Corbyn should stay on as Labour leader even if he loses next week’s election.
Len McCluskey, called for the left-winger to stay on for a “period of reflection” if he fails to grab the keys to Number 10.
The Unite general secretary insisted that whatever the result Labour had been changed “for ever” but did admitted Brexit-backing seats were the party’s “Achilles’ heel”.
In an unusual move, when asked what would happen if he Corbyn failed in his second bid for the top job, Mr McCluskey insisted Jezza will be in Number 10 but also urged for calm in the wake of hypothetical defeat.
The 69-year-old told The Times: “I do feel that all political parties, if they get defeated in an election, I always believe there should be a period of reflection.
“For example, when we lost in 2015 Ed Miliband resigned that weekend. I didn’t think that was the right thing to do because you need to look at what has happened in any election, you need to look at the results.
“There should be a period of reflection so that there’s not a knee-jerk reaction to blame A, B, C, D or E.”
By contrast, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that the Labour leader would quit if he does not win.
McCluskey also revealed that Unite has polled 75,000 of its members and found that many did not know how they would vote in the election.
He told HuffPo UK: “There are huge numbers of people who are undecided still in these important weathervane seats here in the north and Midlands.
“Our Achilles heel is in our communities, in what’s known as our heartlands, that voted Leave and are not quite sure yet whether they will give their vote to Labour.”
The trade union leader has been a strong supporter of Mr Corbyn since his unexpected rise to the top of the party in 2015.
He insisted that the changes in Labour’s policies would endure beyond Mr Corbyn’s leadership.
McCluskey added: “I think Corbyn and McDonnell have changed the Labour Party forever, and I don’t think we’ll ever go back to that position again.”