Labour leadership: Keir Starmer refuses to say whether he would keep Corbyn in shadow cabinet

Frontrunner vows to abolish minimum salary threshold for migrant workers

Labour leadership frontrunner Keir Starmer has refused to say whether he would offer Jeremy Corbyn a place in his shadow cabinet.

Mr Corbyn indicated last week that he was ready to consider any offers of frontbench posts, after the left-wing candidate to succeed him, Rebecca Long-Bailey, suggested she would offer him a job.

Ballot papers were being sent out electronically and by post today for the members’ and supporters’ vote to choose a new Labour leader on 4 April.

In a round of broadcast interviews, Starmer refused to be drawn on whether he would offer Mr Corbyn a frontbench role when he steps down after five years as leader.

“I have not discussed the shadow cabinet with anybody,” Sir Keir told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Starmer vowed to scrap salary thresholds for migrants coming to Britain if he becomes prime minister.

He said salary thresholds – which are set to be introduced under the Government’s post-Brexit immigration system – were not the “right measure for the worth of an individual coming to this country”.

Last week, the Home Office announced that it would introduce a new immigration system with points awarded for key requirements like being able to speak English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a minimum salary threshold.

The salary threshold for skilled migrants will be £25,600 for those coming to the UK with a job offer and there may be concessions for those earning as little as £20,480 so long as they still meet certain requirements or their sector is suffering labour shortages.

Sir Keir told Today: “The position the Government has just taken is completely wrong – where they are equating the worth of an individual coming to this country by how much money they earn. I think that’s profoundly the wrong approach…

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Labour leadership contenders Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey (Getty)

“I think the idea that if you don’t earn a certain salary you’re not bringing anything of any worth to this country is offensive.”

Asked if he would do away with salary thresholds, he replied: “I would – I do not think they are the right measure for the worth of an individual coming to this country.”

Around half a million Labour members, along with registered supporters and members of affiliated trade unions and socialist societies, are eligible to vote in the leadership contest. It is expected that a large proportion of ballots will be cast over the next few days.