Labour denies conducting secret opinion poll to decide Jeremy Corbyn's future
Party denies moves to canvass opinion on its leader as pressure mounts ahead of crucial by-elections
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Labour Party has said that reports that Jeremy Corbyn has funded a secret opinion poll on his leadership are “entirely untrue”.
The Daily Mirror had reported the Labour leader had ordered a "vast opinion poll ten times the size of a normal survey" seeking views on his own future, and is keeping the results secret from the rest of the shadow cabinet.
Rumours abound that the leader is considering his own position, though he told the BBC recently that suggestions he has named his departure date were “fake news.”
Labour sources say that a large-scale opinion poll has been discussed but has not yet been signed off, and that even if it does go ahead it will not include questions about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
BMG Research, the company that has been sounded out over the survey, was also behind a recent leaked survey of voters in the north of England, canvassing opinion on two possible Corbyn successors: shadow cabinet ministers Rebecca Long-Bailey and Angela Rayner.
Mr Corbyn faces two tests of his leadership this week, when simultaneous by-elections take place in Copeland and Stoke Central, both of which Mr Corbyn could lose.
Mr Corbyn’s long-time ally, shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, said he would stay on whatever the results.
“These are difficult by-elections. They are going to be quite tight,” she said.
“We are hopeful of winning both of them... And if we lose one, if we lose both, I think the party will go forward.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments