Labour is edging towards a bitter split as up to a hundred MPs face the threat of a deselection battle. Plans for a breakaway group have been accelerated by fears of a mass wave of challenges to sitting MPs. It is anticipated that around a quarter of the 100 MPs expected to be subject to a contest will lose, removing them as Labour candidates for the next election. A number of Labour MPs including Mr McDonnell, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner tweeted their support for the pledge. Mr McDonnell said people wanted ‘reassurance’ that their MPs are ‘Labour through and through’, and stressed that he does not see ‘any need’ for anyone to split from the party.

Source: Daily Mail February 17, 2019 22:00 UTC