KEIR STARTS RESHUFFLE.. WIELDS AXE
Johnson claiming a spectacular hat-trick. Labour victories in the London, Greater Manchester and
West of England mayoral contests, and the Welsh Senedd, failed to disguise the bleak overall picture.
With counting for 141 of England’s 143 councils complete by 7pm yesterday, Labour was down 323 councillors and eight town halls, with the Tories up 239 councillors and 13 local authorities. The results triggered Labour infighting. Mr Starmer, who on Friday promised to take full responsibility for the results, made sacking Ms Rayner his first priority.
But then yesterday morning, Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Angela Rayner has been offered a significant promotion to take her from the back office of the Labour party, running elections, to the front office, talking to the country. So, in actual fact, Angela Rayner, as I understand it, as I have been told, has not been sacked.”
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show: “When the leader of the party on Friday said he takes responsibility for the election result in Hartlepool in particular and then scapegoats Angela Rayner, I think many of us feel that is unfair.
“We know Keir’s style of leadership is that his office controls everything.”
Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: “I think sacking Angela Rayner is not a unifying thing to do. I think it is baffling.
“She didn’t take any of the big decisions around Hartlepool and we’ve not heard anywhere in the country people
DAILY MIRROR
Sacking Angela Rayner is not a unifying thing to do
saying they didn’t vote Labour because of Angela Rayner. I think it is puzzling to sack Angela Rayner.” Former Coronation Street actress Ms Brabin’s victory was the only glimmer of hope, as she beat second-placed candidate, Conservative Matt Robinson, by 101,786 votes.
But she will now have to quit as MP for Batley and Spen, meaning Mr Starmer faces another tricky by-election in a Red Wall seat, which Ms Brabin won with a 3,525 majority in 2019, down from 8,961 in 2017.
Ms Brabin, who played Tricia Armstrong on the Street, has held the seat since 2016 when a by-election took place after sitting MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist.
DIANE ABBOTT LABOUR MP ON RESHUFFLE