What Labour’s Reshuffle Could Mean For Defence

The shadow defence secretary fundamentally disagrees with Mr Corbyn’s position on Syria and Trident, making her vulnerable in any reshuffle.

Reporters said Ms Eagle looked upset after meeting Mr Corbyn but she told them: “I have nothing to say, but that shouldn’t surprise you”.

Hilary Benn was fighting for his job as Jeremy Corbyn’s first Shadow Cabinet reshuffle got underway.

Names in the frame include Emily Thornberry, the former shadow attorney general, who was sacked by Ed Miliband for posting a picture of a white van outside a house flying a St George’s flag.

Livingstone: Well I think for the vast majority of the public, they’re not terribly interested about who’s in which position in the shadow cabinet.

Unlike Mr Benn, she backed Jeremy Corbyn’s stance on military action in Syria.

Shadow cabinet minister Michael Dugher, whose own place is reported to be in jeopardy, warned the leader would end up with a “politburo of seven” at the top of the party if he attempted to surround himself with allies.

A source close to Mr Corbyn said: “When the original shadow cabinet was set up, it was in the context of coups being threatened immediately”.

“No one has spoken to me about a promotion to the shadow cabinet”, he said.

Jeremy Corbyn has made a decision to demote Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, and wants to fire Maria Eagle, the shadow defence secretary, to seize control of his party’s security policy.

Ken Livingstone, an ally of Corbyn and former London mayor, told the BBC’s World at One that it “might very well be the case that it would be better” if Benn were to be moved to an area where his thinking was more in tune with that of the party leader.

A full announcement is expected on Tuesday ahead of the already scheduled lunchtime shadow cabinet meeting.

Michael Dugher, who warned against a “revenge reshuffle” earlier this week, was facing a return to the back benches.

Ms Harman told BBC2’s Newsnight: “Women’s rights are never going to be taken forward by men in the party whether they’re men on the left of the party, men on the centre or men on the right”.

Sky News has learnt that Mr Corbyn is scheduled to meet Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI director-general, towards the end of the week.

Reports have suggested that Benn may swap jobs with Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham.

“People were attracted by the idea that we could unite and come together… make a virtue of having debates and proper discussions and, in Jeremy’s words, even a little dissent”.

“Sacked by Jeremy Corbyn for too much straight talking, honest politics”, he wrote, in a direct echo of Mr Corbyn’s party conference speech pledge.

‘I haven’t been spoken to by anyone so I think it’s complete speculation’.