Tom Watson 'being lined up by unions to replace Jeremy Corbyn'

Partnership: Tom Watson and Jeremy Corbyn at last month's Labour conference when they were voted in as deputy leader and leader respectively
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
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Labour bruiser Tom Watson is being lined up by the unions to replace Jeremy Corbyn before the general election, according to senior MPs.

The party’s deputy leader was spotted in a London pub with Unite boss Len McCluskey last week, a day after an explosive row erupted over policy at a meeting of Labour backbenchers.

The pair sat at a table on Tuesday night in The Ship in Kennington with a red-haired woman, believed to be Karie Murphy – a friend of the union leader who worked as Mr Watson’s office manager at the Commons.

“They were deep in conversation and are obviously close and long-standing friends,” said an observer. “The timing of it was interesting.”

The previous night Mr Corbyn’s authority was damaged when shadow chancellor John McDonnell performed a U-turn on a key borrowing vote.

"Most of us believe Tom is thinking about what will happen if Jeremy’s leadership fails or if people are looking for an alternative in a year or two"

&#13; <p>A Labour source</p>&#13;

It triggered “savage” arguments at a private session of the Parliamentary Labour Party that evening, and the first rebellion in the Commons against Mr Corbyn’s line, when at least 21 Labour MPs refused to obey the whips.

Mr Watson is suspected by MPs of trying to take control of the party machinery to get it in shape for next year’s local and London elections, making himself more powerful in the process.

A Labour MP said: “Most of us believe Tom is thinking about what will happen if Jeremy’s leadership fails or if people are looking for an alternative in a year or two.

"Everybody knows that he and Len McCluskey are on close terms.

"Union leaders are not daft... and if Jeremy is seen to be incapable of winning they won’t hesitate to tell him his time’s up"

&#13; <p>A Labour MP</p>&#13;

"People suspect there are other things going on as well.”

Another MP, with a union background, said: “Union leaders are not daft.

"They know they will get nothing unless Labour wins the next election and if Jeremy is seen to be incapable of winning they won’t hesitate to tell him his time’s up.”

Mr Corbyn’s leadership has been overshadowed by his lack of support in the parliamentary party, in contrast with his landslide vote among members, trade unionists and new supporters who paid £3 to cast their ballots.

The Islington North MP has made a series of blunders, allowing reshuffle arguments to be overheard by journalists, refusing to sing the National Anthem, allegedly “snubbing” the Queen, and making a mockery of Labour defence policy by saying he would never press the nuclear button.

But while many Labour MPs privately admit they do not think he can win the next election, there is no agreement so far about who could replace him.

Mr Watson has been embroiled in controversy about his decision to name the late Leon Brittan as a suspected sex abuser.

Tory MP Tim Loughton said Mr Watson had behaved as “judge, jury and executioner”.

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