Jeremy Corbyn dons his favourite shellsuit as he finalises the ‘revenge reshuffle with Ed Miliband saying there is now an ‘acceptance’ of the Labour leader
Hapless leftie pictured cycling in his grey tracksuit ahead of another day of announcements about his new frontbench
JEREMY Corbyn donned his favourite shellsuit for a cycle ride this morning as he tries to finalise his revenge reshuffle.
The hapless leftie was pictured in his grey tracksuit ahead of another day of announcements about the new Labour frontbench as he tries to fill dozens of holes left after mass resignations earlier this year.
Several ministers who stood down in protest over his performance in the summer have since returned, although his office seemed unaware one of those it thought had come back had never left.
Mr Corbyn's office briefed that Louise Haigh was one of those returning to the front bench, even though she had never left her shadow ministerial role.
Ms Haigh, who has moved from being a shadow Cabinet Office minister to a post in Tom Watson's shadow culture, media and sport team, had even been sent a letter from Mr Corbyn thanking her for staying on the front bench after the wave of resignations which saw scores of senior MPs depart in June.
A source in Mr Corbyn's camp acknowledged she had not resigned but "she backed no confidence" when Labour MPs voted by 172 to 40 to say they had no confidence in the leader.
The blunder was branded "absolutely ridiculous" by one Labour insider, while another labelled Mr Corbyn's camp "idiots" for the mistake.
It comes as his predecessor Ed Miliband claimed there was now an "acceptance" of his leadership.
The former Labour leader said there had been a change of attitude among MPs about Mr Corbyn following his re-election, despite the resignation of two whips following the sacking of their boss, Dame Rosie Winterton.
But Mr Miliband backed Mr Corbyn and said Labour could "absolutely" win a general election under him, just weeks after supporting Owen Smith for the leadership because he wanted someone who could make the party a "serious alternative government".
He acknowledged there would not be "constant peace" within the Labour ranks, but claimed the mood had shifted.
The former leader revealed he was not invited "formally" to serve on Mr Corbyn's front bench and said he has "made clear for some time" that he is currently content on the back benches.
Asked if Labour could win an election under Mr Corbyn, Mr Miliband told BBC Two's Victoria Derbyshire show: "Absolutely, absolutely.
"Look, he got re-elected by our party, we've got more members than I think we've had in 40 or 50 years, he has mobilised party members and people who weren't party members in a way that even I didn't do so.
"Now the task is for all of us to take this out to the country and convince the country.
"And I think there has been a change in terms of attitude and will among the parliamentary party since Jeremy's re-election.
“I think there's an acceptance that he won, an acceptance that people have got to work with him and support him.
"It doesn't mean there won't be disagreements, it doesn't mean that there will be constant peace, but it does mean there's a sense that we've got to focus on the country not the party."