Jeremy Corbyn dismisses rumours he is ready to stand down as ‘wishful thinking’
Jeremy Corbyn has said he will lead the Labour party into the next general election following speculation that he wanted to stand down.
The Labour leader dismissed rumours he wanted to stand down as “wishful thinking by some people”.
Read more: Motion to oust deputy leader Tom Watson withdrawn after backlash
He said he was “taking the party into the general election…to end austerity, to bring forward policies that bring about a better standard of living and better opportunities for people across this country”.
When asked by the BBC whether he would serve a full term if he became Prime Minister, Corbyn replied: “Of course – why wouldn’t I? I am very surprised by the question.”
The speculation that Corbyn was looking to resign came after the Sunday Times reported that he had told an author that he was looking to retire, and following a move from Momentum founder Jon Lansman to oust deputy leader Tom Watson, who has been a prominent critic of Corbyn’s stance over Brexit.
It is understood that Corbyn allies were keen to remove Watson’s post so that he could not stand for the leadership and thereby end the left’s representation at the top of the party.
Corbyn admitted today he was not aware of the motion – which was backed by allies Rebecca Long-Bailey and Diane Abbott – to oust Watson that plunged the party into chaos on the eve of its party’s conference.
The Labour leader said that while he was aware there were conversation about the role of deputy leader, he was “not aware the motion would be moved at that time”.
Read more: Key Labour aide Andrew Fisher to resign
“I didn’t know a motion was going to be put,” he said. “I knew there were people who were concerned about the position of having one deputy and thought there ought to be a diversity in the elected position within the party.”
The motion moved by Lansman was later withdrawn, with Corbyn instead calling for a review of the role.