Labour needs to 'work together and deliver', shadow cabinet minister urges
A member of Jeremy Corbyn's top team says the potential for another election should focus minds on taking the fight to the Tories.
Sunday 9 July 2017 19:47, UK
A member of Jeremy Corbyn's top team has issued a call for party unity, urging Labour MPs and members to "work together and to deliver".
Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams said the potential for another general election should focus party minds on taking the fight to the Conservatives, rather than internal battles about potential de-selections of MPs.
"We have a very talented group of MPs including some that have been there for a while and including those that have just come on board. We all need to work together and to deliver," she told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
"We could have an election in a few months and we need to be pulling together to make sure we can deliver for the country and for the people who have been marginalised and excluded for much, much too long."
Her comments were echoed by shadow cabinet colleague Angela Rayner, who urged anyone talking about deselection of Labour MPs to think about "who are the real enemy".
The shadow education secretary told the BBC's Andrew Marr show the party "should be concentrating on making sure we're ready" for the next election.
On Saturday, Labour's Yvette Cooper condemned online abuse directed at MP Luciana Berger, who has been targeted by supporters of Mr Corbyn over her previous criticism of the Labour leader.
Ms Rayner said: "Luciana has done a tremendous amount of work, she's an absolute valued member of the team.
"Anyone that talks of deselecting any of my colleagues, quite frankly they need to think about actually who are the real enemy here?
"Who are making the problems for our communities at the moment? Who have made those disastrous policies that are hurting the people that need us the most? It doesn't help them if we're fighting each other."
Earlier this week, a Corbyn ally , sparking claims the Labour leader is plotting to purge moderate Labour MPs.
Left-wing MP Chris Williamson, newly appointed as a shadow minister by Mr Corbyn, said Labour MPs deserve to face de-selection if they are not supported by party members.