Tri-Service

What Labour's Reshuffle Could Mean For Defence

Jeremy Corbyn is gearing up to reshuffle his top team amid speculation that he could "purge" key figures who disagree with him on issues like Trident renewal and bombing Islamic State.

The Labour leader is expected to hold "preliminary" discussions with some members of his Shadow Cabinet this afternoon, before potentially finalising a new line-up before Tuesday lunchtime.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn's position is thought to be under threat after he made an impassioned Commons speech backing the extension of UK airstrikes to Syria, while Shadow Defence Secretary Angela Eagle's support for renewing the nuclear deterrent has also infuriated those close to Mr Corbyn.

Shadow International Development Secretary Diane Abbott, meanwhile, denied she was being lined up to replace Mr Benn, branding the rumours "poppycock and piffle".

Staunch Corbyn supporter Clive Lewis also said he did not want to succeed Ms Eagle, although he stopped short of ruling it out altogether.

The reshuffle process could be complicated as the Commons is not yet back from its Christmas break, and a number of frontbenchers are still in their constituencies.

Hilary Benn's position is thought to be under threat. Picture: Bob Peters

Some believe the scope of the changes will end up narrower than mooted, as the leadership would face a major backlash in the parliamentary party if moderates were frozen out.

Shadow Cabinet minister Michael Dugher, whose own place is reported to be in jeopardy, has warned Mr Corbyn would end up with a "politburo of seven" at the top of the party if he attempted to surround himself with allies from the Labour left.

Shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden has pointed out the Syria decision was a free vote among Labour MPs, arguing that Mr Benn should not pay the price for his views - particularly given Mr Corbyn's own long history of rebellion.

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone denied the party was in "civil war", but said it might be better for Mr Corbyn to move Mr Benn to a different job.

Mr Livingstone, who is co-chairing a review of Labour's defence policy with Maria Eagle, said he "got on fine" with the shadow defence secretary and it was "a matter for Jeremy Corbyn" if she remained in the post.

"I think what Jeremy has to do is putting together the team in the way he wants it and then refocus this debate about the economy," the former mayor told the BBC.

"It's not civil war. Jeremy Corbyn has seen his support go up amongst the party membership. He has got a commanding majority of Labour's National Executive Committee and - contrary to all the predictions - a majority of the shadow cabinet voted with him on Syria."

Mr Livingstone said he believed it was "quite likely" that Mr Benn would be asked to swap jobs with shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, as speculation has suggested, though he insisted he did not know whether this was what Mr Corbyn was planning. He continued:

"There is a problem if - as we had with the debate on Syria - our principal spokesman stands up at the end of the debate and puts a completely different line to the leader of the Labour Party."

"Allowing genuine debate is one thing, but all we had was days of press coverage about splits between Jeremy Corbyn and Hilary Benn. I think that's counter-productive.

"It might well be the case - and I have no knowledge of this - that it would be better to move Hilary Benn to something where he is in agreement with Jeremy Corbyn rather than where he is in disagreement." Mr Livingstone added:

"Jeremy Corbyn and his key advisers have not been briefing the press that there is going to be this great purge and all that. That has come from people who don't know what they are talking about and aren't in the inner circle of Jeremy Corbyn, even in some cases perhaps people who just want to carry on trying to undermine Jeremy Corbyn from the backbenches."