Jeremy Corbyn has struck a defiant tone in a close-of-poll statement on Labour’s tough leadership election, warning rebellious MPs against “destructive self-indulgence”.
Corbyn is widely expected to win a renewed mandate when the results of the leadership challenge are announced in Liverpool on Saturday. Party sources suggested the turnout was above 70%.
But the occasionally bitter tone of the debate, after scores of MPs resigned from his shadow cabinet, has exposed a deep divide in the party.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, after voting closed at noon, Corbyn promised a clean slate for colleagues in the parliamentary Labour party who overwhelmingly backed a motion of no confidence in him in June – but also made clear he would expect them to back him.
“As far as I am concerned, the slate will be wiped clean this weekend. If I am re-elected leader, I will reach out and work with all Labour MPs to form a broad and effective opposition to this divisive and floundering Tory government,” he said.
But he added: “All Labour party members and MPs have a responsibility to work within the democracy of our party and respect the leadership of whoever is elected.”
“We owe it to the millions of people Labour exists to represent to end the sniping and personal attacks, and work together for all those who depend on the election of a Labour government. Anything else would be destructive self-indulgence.”
In a separate interview with BBC News, Corbyn warned his MPs that he would not change his style if re-elected. “Sadly for everyone it’s the same Jeremy Corbyn,” he said. “The same Jeremy Corbyn who’s been through the last year; indeed, been through the last 30 years in parliament.”
Pressed on whether he would risk upsetting members who voted for him by adjusting his policies to appeal to a wider electorate, Corbyn denied there was a conflict. “You take the members with you in order to win the whole country,” he said. “The members, the party, the leader and the electorate have all got to go in the same direction – and that’s my job.”
Asked if he feared being a repeat of Michael Foot, who won acclaim from Labour loyalists but led the party to a crushing defeat against the Conservatives, Corbyn replied: “Michael Foot did a great job and did his best. We are going to do even better.”
Some of Corbyn’s powerful backers, including the Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, have suggested that MPs who have been disloyal to the leader could face deselection.
With many Labour MPs fearing Theresa May could call a snap general election in the coming months, Tom Watson, the party’s deputy leader, had proposed plans for elections to the shadow cabinet as a way of “getting the band back together” and persuading refuseniks to return to the fold.
But an all-day meeting of Labour’s governing national executive committee failed to agree formal proposals on Tuesday. Corbyn agreed to talks, involving the chief whip, Rosie Winterton, which could draw up proposals before an extra NEC meeting on Saturday.
Jon Ashworth MP, who sits on the NEC as a shadow minister, said: “Now the leadership ballot has closed our collective energies must go into pulling together the strongest possible team to take on the Tories. I’m in discussions with colleagues about how we do that ahead of the next NEC meeting on Saturday.”
Watson was also reportedly involved in trying to get crisis talks arranged. But Corbyn’s team appeared to be in no hurry, as they would like to see shadow cabinet elections considered as part of a wider project of democratising the party.
A package of measures could include greater involvement of members in policymaking, and could be considered after conference is over.
Corbyn’s allies believe enough MPs will agree to serve in the shadow cabinet to end the embarrassing juggling of portfolios after mass resignations over the summer, without the need to promise MPs a say in who joins.
Corbyn thanked NEC members for their work during the marathon meeting on Tuesday, but it is understood that he also insisted that the abusive behaviour that has characterised the debate over the summer must end.
Alice Perry, an Islington councillor and NEC member whose own proposals to improve representation in the Labour party were passed, said: “The NEC meeting was a positive step forward to build a Labour party that’s ready for the challenges of the future including the possibility of a snap election.
“It’s time for everyone to unite, to get behind our leader and take the fight to the Tories.”
Speaking as the polls closed, Smith said his campaign had 5,000 volunteers and had spoken to 300,000 Labour supporters. “I’m incredibly grateful to all of the Labour members, supporters and trade unionists who have voted for me in this election,” he said.
“Setting out a vision for Labour’s future, to end austerity, invest in our NHS, build the 300,000 new homes a year we need to end our housing crisis, boosting workers’ rights and pay through a real living wage. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve already done and will continue to do for the Labour party and the people we seek to serve.”
Meanwhile, the former leadership contender David Miliband has used an article in the New Statesman to claim that Labour is further from power than at any time since the 1930s.
He criticises Corbyn for failing to fight harder to win the June referendum and keep Britain in the European Union and claims that the electorate will “see through” his domestic policies.
“Nationalisation cannot be the answer to everything; anti-austerity speeches cannot explain everything; corporate taxation cannot pay for everything. It doesn’t add up. It wouldn’t work. People are not stupid,” Miliband writes.
