Labour leadership: Ex-minister tells Corbyn 'shadow cabinet elections best way to unite party'

But senior figures cast doubt on whether Mr Corbyn really wants the change

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn (Getty)

A top Labour figure who is expected to rejoin Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench has said the most obvious way for his leader to win back support of MPs is to allow them to elect his shadow cabinet.

John Healey said allowing shadow cabinet elections could be an "olive branch", but senior Labour MPs who walked out on Mr Corbyn in the recent coup have cast doubt over whether the idea will ever be implemented.

It comes as Labour's ruling National Executive Committee are due to meet on Saturday night to discuss the proposal, which some of Mr Corbyn's opponents see as a way to temper his power.

But Mr Corbyn's supporters have already been accused of trying to block the plan. Having now won acontest against rival Owen Smith with an increased majority, critics suspect the appetite to compromise will have dwindled.

Writing in the Huffington Post Mr Healey said: "We need the basis for a fresh start for Labour’s frontbench, to put behind us the stand-off between Labour MPs and leader. The responsibility to do so lies with both.

"It’s not about sitting at the Shadow Cabinet table or bums on frontbench seats. The purpose of a strong frontbench in Parliament is to do much better for the millions of people who so badly need and want a Labour government."

He added: "I believe an elected Leader earns the right to shape their top team in Parliament but they need the widest choice and commitment among MPs to draw on. And any Leader has to take people with them.

"Shadow cabinet elections would help to establish a basis for this. Labour MPs have overwhelmingly declared a desire for elections - at least in part - but the decision is for the Leader and the NEC. It is the most obvious ‘olive branch’."

There are other senior figures saying only elections to the shadow cabinet will open the door to a possible return, on different terms, for former frontbenchers.

One said: "He's got to accept a compromise. If he does he might get 12 big names and that will give him legitmacy in his party and strength in Parliament, it's the only way to move on."

Mr Corbyn has said he has been having discussions with former members of his top team to bring them back, but some Labour insiders said they were not aware of any former shadow cabinet members planning to go back and suggested very few had yet been approached by Mr Corbyn, or his key allies.

One suggested that any “triumphalism” from Mr Corbyn's supporters could make it harder for the two sides to achieve a reconciliation. But the key obstacle to peace is the widespread belief that nothing had really changed, that Mr Corbyn has shown nothing during the contest to suggest he would be a different, more effective, more collegiate, leader of the party.

A senior figure said: "You may get a handful of the more junior positions that go back and one or two names, but nothing has changed for the bigger people to return. Why would they go?

"At the same time why would Corbyn allow shadow cabinet elections if he wins a major victory. They haven't seemed to want them in meetings up to now, and even tried to put it off in the NEC. "

One former shadow cabinet member said: “Nobody from Corbyn’s office has even tried to contact me and I think a lot of other people have not been spoken to.

“I don’t think I will be asked back, but – even if I am – the contest has not changed my opinion of his leadership qualities or of the experience last time.”