Party press offices go silent after John McDonnell retreats from implicating party and non-party elements in attempted overthrow of leader
THE LABOUR shadow chancellor John McDonnell has retreated from a statement preparing party members for a “soft coup” by internal and external opponents of party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The article by Corbyn’s closest ally, published online by the Labour left publication Labour Briefing, accused figures inside Labour as well as figures in the tabloid media of colluding in an attempt to remove Corbyn by covert means, after he defeated party opponents in two leadership elections in 2015 and 2016.
In the article, McDonnell said: “We have to alert party members and supporters that the soft coup is underway. It’s planned, co-ordinated and fully resourced. It is being perpetrated by an alliance between elements in the Labour Party and the Murdoch media empire, both intent on destroying Jeremy Corbyn and all that he stands for.
“We have to alert party members and supporters that the soft coup is underway. It’s planned, co-ordinated and fully resourced. It is being perpetrated by an alliance between elements in the Labour Party and the Murdoch media empire, both intent on destroying Jeremy Corbyn and all that he stands for.” John McDonnell
“The coup is not being waged up front in public but strictly behind the scenes. Having learned the lesson of the last coup attempt – that a direct attack on Jeremy and his policies will provoke a backlash from many party members – the coup perpetrators are this time round pursuing a covert strategy.
“The tactics include daily and constant behind-the-scenes non-attributable briefings against Jeremy and his Shadow Cabinet every time he or his shadow ministers make a statement, intervene in Parliament or launch a policy. The plotters use every opportunity to chip away at Jeremy’s standing to seek to demean him and undermine support for him in the Labour Party and among Labour supporters.”
The article goes on to detail one instance where McDonnell claims a false story alleging Corbyn was preparing to stand down was created and circulated to the press.
The online publication of the article comes after a difficult week for the party, which saw them defeated in Copeland, a constituency held by Labour for over eight decades. Scottish Labour’s conference over the weekend (24-26 February) was marred by controversy over comments by Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who compared Scottish nationalists to UKIP and Donald Trump supporters.
The party also held on to the Stoke Central constituency comfortably, fending off a challenge from UKIP leader Paul Nuttall.
When contacted, a McDonnel aid declined to comment on the article, but referred CommonSpace to a pre-released statement, alleging that the article had been written and published before the difficulties of the by elections and Scottish conference.
“This article was written over a week ago in response to the intervention from Tony Blair. It was published in print last week and only went online last night. However, as John said yesterday he wants us all to focus on party unity following last week’s by-election results. And he is looking to reach out in the coming days to those across all sections of the party and none.” Labour statement
The statement reads: “This article was written over a week ago in response to the intervention from Tony Blair. It was published in print last week and only went online last night. However, as John said yesterday he wants us all to focus on party unity following last week’s by-election results. And he is looking to reach out in the coming days to those across all sections of the party and none.”
CommonSpace made press inquiries to McDonnell’s office, and to the UK and Scottish Labour press offices, but all declined to comment on the article or McDonnell’s apparent retraction.
Labour briefing was contacted regarding the circumstances of the articles publication, but had not responded by time of publication.
Picture courtesy of Garry Knight
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