The next Labour leader must ditch the legacy of Jeremy Corbyn to win power, a poll has revealed.
A Deltapoll survey for the Daily Mirror revealed that “having a strong, credible leader who moves the party on from the Corbyn era” was the public’s top priority for the next leader of the opposition – with 44 per cent of people asked saying it was the most important issue if the party wanted to oust Boris Johnson from power.
It came as a ‘legacy’ plan for Jeremy Corbyn’s final weeks and next steps was leaked, revealing that Mr Corbyn could be planning a trip to Iraq.
The document handed to the Sunday Times reveals the outgoing Labour leader is planning to set up his own ‘For the Many Foundation’ when he steps down – a nod to his 2017 election slogan.
And before he does so, he will pave the way for cementing his shift of Labour to the left with visits to ‘red wall’ seats in the north and work to ‘inspire young people’.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It’s understood the For The Many Foundation is under serious discussion, while other ideas in the leaked document were proposed by staff and are not confirmed or solid plans.
They are said to include championing “solidarity struggles” and “stopping war”, with a possible visit to officials in Baghdad’s Green Zone.
The public’s second concern was Mr Corbyn’s replacement regain voters trust on the economy (37 per cent), followed closely by ensuring that they offer a “credible set of affordable policies” and “show they are in touch with working people”, both on 32 per cent.
Backing the Government’s Brexit trade deal was seen as a priority by just 18 per cent of those polled.
(Image: Hollie Adams)
Despite this today, Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday that Labour’s election defeat was “virtually, solely down to Brexit” and defended the party’s policies on other matters.
He said: “Two years ago Jeremy Corbyn was loved. What happened in the last two years? Brexit, and Labour’s inability to effectively stay with their 2017 manifesto position of respecting the 2016 referendum and arguing to take Labour and the country out of Europe on a deal that protects jobs and investment.
“That got lost in the two years and that affected how people perceived Jeremy as a leader and we paid the consequences for that.”
- Keir Starmer – 1/3
- Rebecca Long-Bailey – 4/1
- Lisa Nandy – 6/1
- Emily Thornberry – 100/1
- OUT: Jess Phillips
- OUT: Clive Lewis
Odds Jan 22 from thepools.com. For full profiles and how the contest works click here.
Deputy leadership candidates
- Angela Rayner
- Richard Burgon
- Rosena Allin Khan
- Dawn Butler
- Ian Murray
- OUT: Khalid Mahmood
Mr McCluskey also claimed that political opponents “used the anti-Semitism issue – which I think is quite despicable that they did this on such an important subject – to undermine Corbyn, there’s no doubt about that.”
The poll also revealed that when it comes to making an impression on the public, if not party members, Labour’s leadership contenders have it all to play for.
(Image: Christopher Furlong)
More than half of people (58 per cent) say they don’t know who would be the best person to lead the party.
Of those who had made up their minds, Keir Starmer tops the list but only on 17 per cent.
Lisa Nandy has the support of ten per cent of the public, Rebecca Long-Bailey is on eight per cent and Emily Thornberry has seven per cent.
Deltapoll interviewed 1,536 British adults online between 22nd – 24th January 2020. The data have been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.
The question in full
Which of the following do you think need to be Labour’s top priorities to win power?
Have a strong, credible leader who moves the party on from the Corbyn era – 44%
Back the Armed Forces and the Royal Family – 9%
Have a clear and credible policy on immigration – 21%
Invest more in public services – 17%
Show they are in touch with working people – 32%
Back the Government’s Brexit trade deal – 18%
A credible set of affordable policies – 32%
Regaining the trust of the British people on the issue of the economy – 37%
A commitment to socialist principles – 7%
Don’t know – 13%
