This is what Jeremy Corbyn’s new frontbench think of their leader, in their own words:
Sir Keir Starmer, new Shadow Brexit Secretary: “It is simply untenable to suggest that we can offer an effective opposition without a change of leader”
John Healey, new Shadow Secretary of State for Housing: “you are clearly not prepared to accept the special responsibility you have in acting to meet these challenges”
Nia Griffith: new Shadow Defence Secretary: “I do not feel you can… achieve unity”
Jo Stevens, new Shadow Welsh Secretary: “We cannot present ourselves as a government in waiting without leadership and a leadership team that commands the respect and support not only of members… but Labour voters and potential Labour voters too.”
Sarah Champion, new Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities: “Jeremy’s position is no longer tenable if we’re to be effective”
Barbara Keeley, new Shadow Minister for Mental Health: “the current state of the party means we will not be able to mount an effective front bench opposition”
Sharon Hodgson, new Shadow Minister for Public Health: “I believe you have let down the many people who elected you in such large numbers to be our leader last summer. For this very same reason, I also believe that you will not be able to command the necessary support of the wider electorate… I do not think you can lead us into government.”
Jonathan Reynolds, new Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury: “I cannot in good conscience endorse the world view of Stop the War Coalition. The security and well-being of my constituents must always be my first consideration.”
Jack Dromey, new Shadow Minister for Labour: “We cannot fight back and win with you as leader.”
Chi Onwurah, new Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy: “a combination of ineptitude and arrogance”
Emma Lewell-Buck, new Shadow Children’s Minister: “Jeremy Corbyn is one of the worst-performing leaders we’ve had in decades… we’re not going to win a General Election with him as leader.”
Kevin Brennan, new Shadow Minister for Arts: “I would not feel able to nominate or support you for leader… it would be dishonest of me to stay”
Jenny Chapman, new Shadow Brexit Minister: “Labour cannot win in Darlington with Jeremy as leader”
Roberta Blackman-Woods, new Shadow Minister for Local Government and Housing: “I no longer have confidence in you as a leader”
Louise Haigh, new Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy: “We are currently not able to fulfil the very basic, day-to-day operation as the Official Opposition in Parliament”
Pat Glass, new Shadow Minister for Transport: “the situation is untenable”
And now they’ve come crawling back…
The post Corbyn in the Words of His New Top Team appeared first on Guido Fawkes.