Jeremy Corbyn's top aide Karie Murphy moves to new role amid Labour turbulence
Some Labour sources claim Karie Murphy "overreached herself" and did things Jeremy Corbyn did not like.
Tuesday 8 October 2019 12:05, UK
Jeremy Corbyn's controversial top aide Karie Murphy has moved out of her role, according to Labour sources.
Ms Murphy is taking up a role at the party's headquarters coordinating the digital campaign for the expected general election.
Labour sources claimed she will return to work in the leader's office after a general election.
However, this comes after a turbulent time in Mr Corbyn's office.
Some figures claimed that her departure is linked to the resignation of Andrew Fisher, the party's head of policy, in the middle of the Labour conference in Brighton last month.
However, a Labour source close to the leadership insisted Ms Murphy's role was to beef up operations ahead of an election campaign.
"As we ramp up campaigning ahead of a general election, we are maximising the use of the resources we have to ensure we are successful," they said.
"Karie will drive this crucial work from HQ, as she did during the last election."
Mr Fisher's unhappiness with the functioning of Mr Corbyn's office, overseen by Ms Murphy, was key to his departure according to some Labour sources.
Mr Fisher was very close to both Mr Corbyn and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor.
Some Labour sources claim that Ms Murphy "overreached herself" and did things Mr Corbyn did not like - something that Labour would not comment on this morning.
A source familiar with the Labour leader's office said of the motivation for Ms Murphy's move: "The Fisher stuff is massive. Think it is a key thing. He is like family to Jeremy Corbyn."
One Labour source more sympathetic to Ms Murphy said: "Karie has wanted a move to HQ for a while to be honest.
"Rumour is she is looking to dial stuff down as she wants a seat in Commons/Lords."
Mr Fisher alleged "class war" has gripped the upper echelons of the party - a dig at Seumas Milne, Corbyn's senior aide, who was educated at Winchester College and Oxford University.
However he did not publicly blame Ms Murphy for tensions in a memo reported by the Sunday Times last month.