Labour MPs warn party has 'no safe seats' amid fears over Ukip and Liberal Democrats

"Crisis": Senior Jeremy Corbyn allies fear the party could be crushed by Ukip and the Lib Dems
PA
Jamie Bullen3 December 2016
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Labour MPs have warned the party has “no safe seats” amid fears the party faces being crushed between Ukip and the Liberal Democrats.

The stark warning came after Labour’s disappointing performance in the Richmond Park by-election on Friday in which it lost its deposit.

Labour polled just 1,515 votes, which is fewer than the local party membership, and meant it lost its deposit for the first time in a London by-election since 1909.

The result has sparked fears among Labour figures the party is mired in an electoral crisis with a resurgent Lib Dems hoovering up support from Remain supporters in urban and southern areas while Ukip builds support in its working-class heartlands in the Midlands and the north.

"No safe seats": Chuka Umunna has warned the party faces a battle in every constituency to be elected 
Alex Lentati

Streatham MP Chuka Umunna, a one-time leadership candidate, said there were now “no safe Labour seats”.

Senior allies to leader Jeremy Corbyn said they feared the Brexit result had resulted in a shift from traditional party loyalties as voters align themselves as either pro or anti-EU instead

A senior aide told the Times: "We do have two different strong pulls. There are metropolitan seats, in London, Man-Manchester and Leeds; they are strongly pro-EU.

“Then equally, there are dozens and dozens of seats which are working class, where many did not vote to remain. There's no doubt it's a difficult to balance the two."

Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis suggested the party should consider joining forces with other parties following its dismal showing in Richmond.

He told the Politico website: "It's quite clear that the usual political playbook parties use isn't necessarily going to work in the situation we find ourselves in now.”

Meanwhile, the Richmond Park result has also quietened speculation Prime Minister Theresa May could call a snap general election next year.

Senior Conservatives said Zac Goldsmith’s failure to be re-elected as an independent underlined the volatile nature of the present political climate.

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