Jeremy Corbyn faces renewed criticism after completing reshuffle
The chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party says some members of the shadow cabinet should have been elected - not appointed.
Saturday 8 October 2016 05:47, UK
Jeremy Corbyn has come under attack after reshuffling his shadow cabinet for not allowing elections for at least some of the positions in his top team.
The Labour leader completed his revamp early on Friday evening by appointing deputy leader Tom Watson as shadow culture secretary.
But as soon as his new team had been announced, the chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), John Cryer, wrote to MPs criticising the process.
In his letter, Mr Cryer says that at the beginning of September, the PLP had voted "overwhelmingly for the return of elections to the Shadow Cabinet".
He says there was never an expectation that the entire team would be elected.
Following the PLP vote, Mr Cryer says negotiations began involving him, former chief whip Rosie Winterton and "people from the leadership team".
"As far as Rosie and I were concerned," he writes, "the talks were held in good faith with the aim of striking an agreement which would allow some places to be filled through elections, while the leader would retain the right to appoint others."
He appears to have thought the discussions were going well, saying he and Ms Winterton were "genuinely hopeful" of reaching an agreement.
Such an outcome would, he says, have had the advantage of "drawing the PLP together".
Referring to previous disunity, he says a deal would have enabled the party to "go forward in a more unified manner than has hitherto been the case".
Mr Cryer says he and Ms Winterton wanted to continue negotiations this week.
But on Wednesday, he says it became apparent that "a reshuffle was under way, which had not been discussed or mentioned".
Expressing his disappointment, Mr Cryer concludes: "It now seems to me that the party's leadership did not engage in the talks in any constructive way.
"Obviously, I deeply regret this turn of events."
But a spokesman for Mr Corbyn said the subject remained on the agenda: "Shadow cabinet elections will be considered by Labour's national executive committee as part of a wider party democratisation at a special meeting next month."
Prior to his recent re-election as party leader, Mr Corbyn vowed to "wipe the slate clean".
But former whip Tom Blenkinsop has accused him of reneging on a pledge to unite the party.
Mr Blenkinsop tweeted: "Clear Corbyn wants submission not unity.
"Ignoring wishes of the PLP and just sacking and appointing regardless."
MPs loyal to Mr Corbyn occupy the three top jobs in the shadow cabinet.
John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry remain in place as shadow chancellor and shadow foreign secretary, while Diane Abbott is the new shadow home secretary.
Announcing his reshuffle, Mr Corbyn said: "For the first time, two of the three 'great offices of state' are shadowed by women.
"Once again the shadow cabinet has a majority of women, and has more black and minority ethnic appointees than any shadow cabinet or cabinet ever.
"Our aim is to deliver what millions of people are demanding: a Labour Party focused on holding this divisive Government to account and winning the next general election."