Jeremy Corbyn dismisses talk he is stepping down

Labour party leadership accused of ‘lack of professionalism’ as head of policy quits

Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed rumours he could soon step down as Labour leader as “wishful thinking” after the party’s head of policy resigned, delivering a withering private broadside against the “lack of professionalism” in the leadership of Britain’s main opposition party.

Sunday newspapers reported that the 70-year-old veteran leftwinger was “ready to pack it in” because of the huge pressure of leading a major political party. Senior figures in the shadow cabinet are understood to be lining up for a potential leadership race in the coming months.

But Mr Corbyn, speaking at the start of Labour’s annual conference in Brighton, said he had carried out 40 public engagements in August alone all over the UK and insisted he wanted to win an election to end austerity. Asked if he intended to be prime minister for an entire five-year term, he told the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show: “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

One senior ally of Mr Corbyn told the Financial Times that he had considered quitting earlier in the year but was now re-energised by the prospect of an imminent election.

Mr Corbyn’s comments came after Andrew Fisher, the head of policy, announced on Saturday evening that he was leaving. He has long been considered one of the most loyal and discreet aides to Mr Corbyn, and his departure comes as a bombshell at a time when Labour is already flailing in the opinion polls.

Mr Fisher, a former policy officer at the PCS union, pulled together the Labour manifesto in the 2017 election which was widely credited with gaining the party seats. His decision to leave will raise speculation about morale at the heart of the Labour leadership amid growing questions about the future of Mr Corbyn.