The results from today’s elections could just be the trigger for a LAB leadership contest
It might be that we'll soon a LAB leadership contest. These are the latest Betfair odds pic.twitter.com/slvGOqntJE
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 5, 2016
Currently my money’s on John McDonnell
Every since his shock election last September the speculation has been that a danger period for Corbyn could come in the aftermath of today’s elections.
The way that Sadiq Khan has distanced himself from his leader in recent weeks suggests that it is going to be harder for Team Corbyn to take much comfort from what seems a likely Labour win. On top of that Mayor Khan would become the second most powerful figure in the party with his credence having been helped by overcoming the Goldsmith campaign.
The cack-handed way that Corbyn’s hapless media man, Seamus Milne, dealt with his bosses “we are not going to lose seats” comment mean that anything less than net gains could be portrayed as a negative. The anti-Semitism row has not been helped by Corbyn’s handling. He’s got a lot of baggage there as Cameron wads able to demonstrate yesterday at PMQs.
If it did come to a contest, and I’m far from convinced, then John McDonnell would be in a great position given the nature of the selectorate. He’s far more capable politically than Corbyn and a better communicator.