The latest headlines in your inbox
A former Labour MP who lost her seat in the election today lashed out at the party’s “ardent Remainers” as she insisted the next leader cannot be “Jeremy Corbyn without a beard.”
Caroline Flint’s comments came amid further attacks on Mr Corbyn from within his own party blaming him for leading Labour to its worst election result since 1935.
It also came as Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC “if anyone’s to blame it’s me” and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon blamed the defeat on it being the “Brexit election”.
Ms Flint told Sophy Ridge on Sunday she was trying to “stem my anger” after she lost her seat in Don Valley.
She named Sir Keir Starmer, Emily Thornberry, Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper as “ardent Remainers” who “contributed to sacrificing 59 seats” – many of which were in Labour’s heartlands in the North of England and Midlands.
She added: “Keir Starmer led us to a policy that did not listen to Labour leave voices who urged caution, he led us down the path of a second referendum, and I’m afraid Emily Thornberry did as well – she said to one of my colleagues ‘I’m glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours’.”
When asked if Mr Corbyn was taking enough personal responsibility for the party’s defeat she replied: “no”.
Mr Corbyn apologised on Sunday for the party “coming up short”, adding “I take my responsibility for it”.”
Asked who should succeed the Labour leader, Ms Flint said: “I don’t think it should be anybody who has had a hand in our Brexit strategy over the last few years, and I don’t think it can be Corbyn without a beard, I think that would be the wrong move as well.”
Meanwhile, Mr McDonnell said of Labour’s election defeat: “It’s on me, let’s take it on the chin, I own this disaster so I apologise to all those wonderful Labour MPs who have lost their seats and who worked so hard.
“I apologise to all our campaigners, but most of all I apologise to those people who desperately need a Labour government.
“Yes, if anyone’s to blame it’s me, full stop.”
Speaking on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Mr McDonnell defended his party’s policy programme on and analysis for society it advocated as the “correct one”, adding: “I think that holds sway within the Labour Party.”
He said he expects the leadership change will take place in eight to 10 weeks, and said shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey “could be a brilliant leader” before praising shadow cabinet ministers Angela Rayner, Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler.
He said: “My view is I think it should be a woman leader next.”
Mr McDonnell added that he would “prefer others” to Labour MP Jess Phillips before describing her as “really talented”, adding: “I want someone who actually has been really solidly involved in the development of existing policy – that’s why Becky and Angie and Dawn and others have been so good.”
He also said it was “most probably time for a non-metropolitan”, adding: “I think it is time for a non-London MP, we need a northern voice as much as possible.”
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy echoed Mr McDonnell’s comments, calling for Labour’s headquarters to move out of London in order to reconnect the party with voters outside of the capital.
Ms Nandy, a former shadow energy secretary, said she is “seriously thinking” about running as a candidate to take over from Jeremy Corbyn.
She told The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC that there is a “very, very hard road” to regain the trust of Labour voters in towns across the north of England.
“I think it’s right to say that we need to be much more rooted in those parts of the country. I think that goes beyond the leader though,” she said.
“There’s absolutely no reason why decision making is concentrated in central London.
“Our Labour headquarters, in my view, should move out of London, our regional offices should be empowered to take real decisions, we should move our party conferences back to towns as well as cities.”
The shadow justice secretary Mr Burgon, a key ally for outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn, blamed Labour’s catastrophic defeat on it being the “Brexit election” and defended the party’s socialist manifesto.
On Labour’s Brexit position, he told Sky’s Ridge On Sunday: “I think it was right to attempt to bring the country together on that basis. Did it fail? We’ve got to be open, it did fail.
“It was a disastrous election result and for that we are truly sorry.”
General Election Night: December 2019 – In pictures
1/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory
Jeremy Selwyn
2/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
3/45
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
4/45
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs
PA
5/45
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election
PA
6/45
Boris Johnson press conference
Jeremy Selwyn
7/45
Michael Gove
Jeremy Selwyn
8/45
Dominic Cummings
Jeremy Selwyn
9/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
10/45
REUTERS
11/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
12/45
Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party’s headquarters
Reuters
13/45
A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
14/45
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein’s new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast
AFP via Getty Images
15/45
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre
Getty Images
16/45
A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat
Getty Images
17/45
Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election
PA
18/45
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre
Getty Images
19/45
Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
PA
20/45
Sinn Fein’s John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast
PA
21/45
A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results
PA
22/45
Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London
AFP via Getty Images
23/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
24/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg’s wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
25/45
Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre
Reuters
26/45
Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat
PA
27/45
Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election
PA
28/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
29/45
Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in Hartlepool
Reuters
30/45
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency
Getty Images
31/45
Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher
Reuters
32/45
Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West
Reuters
33/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
34/45
Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
35/45
Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet
Nigel Howard
36/45
General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
37/45
The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
38/45
Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre
Reuters
39/45
The Labour Party’s Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
PA
40/45
The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
41/45
Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South
Reuters
42/45
A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington
Reuters
43/45
General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
44/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Reuters
45/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn
Jeremy Selwyn
1/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory
Jeremy Selwyn
2/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
3/45
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
4/45
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs
PA
5/45
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election
PA
6/45
Boris Johnson press conference
Jeremy Selwyn
7/45
Michael Gove
Jeremy Selwyn
8/45
Dominic Cummings
Jeremy Selwyn
9/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
10/45
REUTERS
11/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
12/45
Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party’s headquarters
Reuters
13/45
A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
14/45
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein’s new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast
AFP via Getty Images
15/45
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre
Getty Images
16/45
A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat
Getty Images
17/45
Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election
PA
18/45
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre
Getty Images
19/45
Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
PA
20/45
Sinn Fein’s John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast
PA
21/45
A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results
PA
22/45
Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London
AFP via Getty Images
23/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
24/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg’s wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
25/45
Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre
Reuters
26/45
Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat
PA
27/45
Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election
PA
28/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
29/45
Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in Hartlepool
Reuters
30/45
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency
Getty Images
31/45
Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher
Reuters
32/45
Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West
Reuters
33/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
34/45
Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
35/45
Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet
Nigel Howard
36/45
General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
37/45
The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
38/45
Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre
Reuters
39/45
The Labour Party’s Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
PA
40/45
The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
41/45
Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South
Reuters
42/45
A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington
Reuters
43/45
General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
44/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Reuters
45/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn
Jeremy Selwyn
He criticised the Sun and Daily Mail newspapers for conducting a “character assassination” against Mr Corbyn.
“I think the biggest mistake the Labour Party made was perhaps underestimating the desire for people who had voted Leave to leave the European Union,” Mr Burgon added.
He backed shadow business secretary Ms Long-Bailey to replace MrCorbyn as leader and said he is “considering” running as her deputy.
Meanwhile, Labour former general secretary Iain McNicol called for Mr Corbyn to immediately resign so a caretaker Labour leader can hold the Tories to account.
Saying the opposition needs someone who can hold Boris Johnson’s “feet to the fire” over Brexit, Lord McNicol told Sky’s Ridge On Sunday: “I think Jeremy should stand down now and we should move to a caretaker leader.
“Go to one of the grandees from before, so like Harriet Harman or Hilary Benn or Yvette Cooper, bring in someone who can actually put the pressure on Boris Johnson on the Conservatives while we go through the next leadership election.”
He criticised Labour’s campaign for focusing resources too heavily on trying to win Tory seats rather than protecting Labour ones and blamed Corbyn and his ideology for the failure.
“The biggest issue and the one that kept coming through time and time again was Jeremy, and was his ability to be prime minister and trust in him. It just wasn’t there when you were speaking to people on the doors,” Lord McNicol said.
New: Daily podcast from the Evening Standard
Subscribe to The Leader on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or your chosen podcast provider. New episodes every weekday from 4pm.