Labour MP John Woodcock comes out AGAINST Jeremy Corbyn as party is plunged into chaos by snap election call
LABOUR was plunged into total disarray yesterday as pollsters predicted an Election drubbing – and an MP vowed to campaign independently of Jeremy Corbyn.
Outspoken backbencher John Woodcock has revealed said he will be seeking re-selection to run as Labour’s candidate in Barrow on June 8th.
But in an incendiary Facebook posting he said it would have to be on his terms as he would never vote for a Labour Government led by Jeremy Corbyn.
Insisting there was still time for the party leader to quit, Mr Woodcock said: “I cannot countenance endorsing him for a job that even he doesn’t think he is fit to carry out.”
The unprecedented blast by an MP of the official opposition so close to an Election came just hours after Jeremy Corbyn insisted he was “very confident” going into the campaign.
But three MPs including former Home Secretary Alan Johnson said they would not be standing on June 8th.
And politics professor Matthew Goodwin said Labour could lose as many as EIGHTY seats on June 8th with heavy losses in the Midlands, the North-East and London.
This would leave Labour on fewer than 150 seats - the party’s worst election drubbing since before the Second World War.
In another blow for Jeremy Corbyn Tony Blair has urged voters to back MPs who would be prepared to vote against Theresa May’s final Brexit deal.
Doubt over Osborne's seat
FORMER Chancellor George Osborne fuelled speculation he will not defend his seat in Tatton, Cheshire — after criticism of the number of jobs he has.
Mr Osborne is expected to start his role as editor of the Evening Standard in the coming days.
June’s snap election will see another former Chancellor, Ken Clarke, and ex-Health Minister Simon Burns also bow out of the Commons. Meanwhile, Mid Worcs MP Nigel Huddleston said he was surprised by the move.
And Tory party grandee Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a former Defence Secretary, said the PM’s decision was a “manageable risk but it’s there”.
The political situation facing the country was “unprecedented and dangerous” and warranted an equally “unique response”.
Writing in a blog post on his website, the former PM said: “This should cross Party lines.”
He added: “We risk a Parliament which is lop-sided in its make-up; which has a big Tory majority - in part delivered not because of the intrinsic merits of Brexit or the Tories themselves but because of the state of Labour; where they will claim a mandate to take us wherever they will; when we desperately need representatives who will at least keep an open mind.”
Furious MPs urged Jeremy Corbyn to reconsider his support for a snap election – saying he was allowing Theresa May to “play politics”.
Chris Bryant said it was “extremely irresponsible” to go the polls given the Brexit negotiations and the fraught political situation in Northern Ireland.
Sources claimed panic struck MPs were even considering whether a caretaker leader could be installed in time for the vote.
Farron looking confident
DELIGHTED Lib Dem boss Tim Farron declared that they were the only party who could prevent a Conservative majority.
Mr Farron — on a visit to Truro, Cornwall — said the Lib Dems had almost doubled its membership and boasted there was a “great energy down here” for Britain’s third party.
The Lib Dems have won 33 council seats since last May, many of them in the South West.
Three former Lib Dem Coalition ministers who were voted out in 2015 — Vince Cable, Ed Davey and Simon Hughes — also vowed to contest their old seats in London.
Others were hoping Ed Balls – the Strictly star and former Shadow Chancellor – may decide to come back to politics.
Party insiders insisted they believe most MPs would rally behind Jeremy Corbyn as there was “little other option”.
Shadow Chancellor and Corbyn ally John McDonnell said “bring it on” while Diane Abbott toured the broadcast studios to insist that pollsters predicting Labour drubbing can get it wrong.
But a devastating ICM poll put the Conservatives on a stunning 46 per cent – the third to give the Tories a 21 point lead over Labour.
And ICM claimed just 13 per cent of the public said Jeremy Corbyn was doing a “good job” – against 61 per cent saying he was doing badly.
Turncoat could return
EX-Ukip MP Douglas Carswell has hinted at a return to the Tories.
Mr Carswell, who quit the Conservatives for Ukip in 2014 but is now independent, tweeted that Brexit meant the anti-EU party’s job was now done.
It fuelled talk he might rejoin his old party — yet to pick a candidate for his seat in Clacton, Essex.
Ukip donor Arron Banks intends to contest it and declared: “Clacton would have a much better MP with me in charge.” Ukip boss Paul Nuttall blasted Theresa May’s “cynical decision” to call an election sparked by Labour weakness.
Ex-leader Nigel Farage said he was undecided on an eighth Commons bid.
The net score of minus 48 per cent compares with plus 33 for Theresa May.
Speaking at a policy launch in Birmingham Mr Corbyn he told the audience “let’s go for it” as he was grilled on Labour’s election campaign.
He said “a fairer economy”, the NHS and “social justice for all” would be at the centre of the party’s message.
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And he said Labour would go “up and down the country” delivering a message of “hope, justice, and social justice for all”.
The party had been due to announce a long-planned keynote policy –to boost the Carer’s Allowance by £10.
As he entered the venue, reporters asked the Labour leader: “Do you believe you’re the next Prime Minister, Jeremy?”
'Boost' for Scots vote
NICOLA Sturgeon boasted a general election would boost the SNP’s bid for a second vote on independence — as the party would win more seats.
Scotland’s First Minister branded the PM’s “extraordinary U-turn” a “huge political miscalculation”.
But Scots Tory boss Ruth Davidson, who blocked the Nationalists from winning a majority in last year’s elections north of the border, pledged to fight “for every vote” to stop another divisive independence referendum.
And Theresa May insisted she would be “championing the cause of a United Kingdom”, adding: “I think we are stronger as a United Kingdom.”
Members of the crowd starting shouting “yes” before he said: “We’ve got a good crowd here and we’re starting off a campaign here to change the face of this country, thanks.”
He added he was, “very confident, very confident”.
Inside the venue he said: “I’ve been elected to lead this party, I’m very proud to lead this party – I simply say to everyone, our party is here to deliver that fair, decent and just society.”
Asked if he would still be leader on June 9th if Labour loses, he replied: “Thanks very much for your question.”
“We’re going to be here a lot, we’re going to be all over the country, giving that message out: one of hope, one of justice, one of social justice for all.
“Above all I want a society where we value everyone, what they can give, what they can contribute, and what we can benefit from and learn from them.
“That’s the kind of world we could live in - let’s go for it.”
MPs were expected to urge Jeremy Corbyn at a private party meeting to vote against Theresa May’s bid to scrap the Fixed Term Parliaments Act in Westminster on Wednesday.
Clive Matheson, Labour MP for Chester, the most marginal seat in the north-west said he was “minded to vote against” the prospect of an election.
Others ripped into Theresa May – who has repeatedly ruled out going to the polls before 2020.
Cameron's guru to win ballot
POLITICAL strategy guru Sir Lynton Crosby has been brought in by Theresa May to run her campaign.
The 60-year-old Aussie was also at the helm of David Cameron’s shock victory in 2015.
A senior No10 source told The Sun: “Lynton is on board, and we are delighted. He is the best in the business.”
He is set to move into Tory HQ within days with his key aides.
Jess Philips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, said: “I’m still in a bit of shock. I think that Theresa May has lied to the country again and again – and she is being opportunistic.
“I think it is rubbish what she is saying about a country divided – she obviously doesn’t live round where I live.
“People just want to get on with their lives.”
She added: “She’s playing a game and it’s a shame.
"I don’t think there was any appetite for a general election from the public and this is Westminster politics once again.”
Separately yesterday, Labour cancelled plans for a commemoration of its landslide 1997 Election victory.
John Cryer MP – chair of the Labour Parliamentary Party said: “In light of today’s announcement of a General Election on the 8 June, we will be postponing the 1997 Anniversary celebration until later in the summer.”
Tories get off to strong start
THERESA May starts her election campaign with the largest poll lead of any Conservative Prime Minister in modern history — 17 points ahead of Labour.
No other Tory government in recent times has been so far ahead of the main rival party 51 days from the vote.
The next biggest since regular polling began after the Second World War was Margaret Thatcher’s 14 points in 1987.
The Tories’ lead now is pipped by Tony Blair’s Labour government which was 19 points ahead going into the 2001 election.