John McDonnell quits shadow cabinet and says Labour must ‘move on’

John McDonnell is to quit frontline politics after Labour’s crushing defeat at the general election.

The Shadow Chancellor hinted a major cabinet reshuffle was on the way and said it was time for the party to ‘move on’.

One of Corbyn’s closes allies, he played a prominent role in the Labour election campaign.

He told reporters he had ‘done his bit’, adding that while ‘Jeremy was the right leader’, it is time for the party to ‘move on’ under new leadership.

He said: ‘We will all go now. The new leader will come in place and appoint a shadow cabinet. I won’t be part of the shadow cabinet.

‘I’ve done my bit. We need to move on at that stage with that new leader’.

He confirmed later on twitter that he would step down when a new leader is elected.

‘Like Jeremy and with his approval I will remain in position until then’ he said.

Mr Corbyn has indicated he will quit as Labour leader in the early part of next year, despite facing calls to quit immediately after his party’s poor election showing.

The election saw Labour swept aside by the Conservatives in its heartlands in the Midlands, north Wales and north-east England, with Jeremy Corbyn’s party securing the fewest number of seats since 1935.

Some traditional Labour constituencies, such as Darlington in the north of England, now have a Conservative MP for the first time in decades.

As a battle for the new leadership begins, members are blaming both the party’s Brexit stance and Corbyn’s leadership on their devastating losses.

Mr McDonnell, who retained the Hayes and Harlington seat he has held since 1997 in Thursday’s election, added that Mr Corbyn had been ‘demonised by a smear campaign against him’ by the media.

‘No. I didn’t back the wrong person because Jeremy was the right leader. We could have won in 2017. Things moved on. Brexit dominated everything’ he said.

And asked if Mr Corbyn was the reason for the party’s defeat, he said: ‘I think there is an issue to be discussed about how the use of the social media – but also the overall media – has turned someone who I think is one of the most principled, honest, sincere, committed anti-racist politicians demonised by a smear campaign against him.’

Speaking on election night after Labour’s disastrous performance became clear, Corbyn said he would not lead the party in another direction.

The race to become the next Labour leader has already started, with ardent Remainer David Lammy confirming he was considering putting his name forward.

Others being touted to take over include Lisa Nandy, who represents Leave-voting Wigan, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Angela Rayner, Sir Keir Starmer, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry.

To avoid any confusion, in response to doorstep I have confirmed that when the new leader is elected I will leave the Shadow Cabinet. Like Jeremy and with his approval I will remain in position until then.

— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) December 14, 2019

McDonnell named Labour’s shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, as part of a ‘new generation’ who could be expected to take leading positions.

He also conceded that Brexit was not the only reason for Labour’s significant defeat.

He said: ‘I think we will be in a position, learning lessons listening to people, constructing a broad coalition right across the country. In those seats we have lost, it is about listening to people.

‘I think it wasn’t just Brexit. I think a long history of maybe 40 years of neglect and them saying to politicians ‘you never listen to us and you have allowed our community to run down in this way’.

‘I am hoping that will enable us to construct a programme to address those issues, but it has got to be from the grassroots and community upwards’.