EXCL Labour MPs demand Jeremy Corbyn aides are axed in wake of election defeat
2 min read
Labour MPs will demand that two of Jeremy Corbyn's closest aides are axed in the wake of the party's general election defeat, PoliticsHome can reveal.
A showdown is set to take place at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Tuesday night.
Furious MPs will call for the sacking of Seumas Milne and Karie Murphy, two of the key architects of Labour's disastrous campaign.
The party went down to its worst defeat in more than 80 years, losing 60 seats and slumping to 32% of the vote.
Mr Milne is Labour's director of communications and strategy, while Ms Murphy is Mr Corbyn's chief of staff and played a leading role at Labour HQ throughout the campaign.
The Labour leader has apologised for his party's defeat, and said that he will step down in the New Year.
But one Labour MP told PoliticsHome: "Jeremy’s departure is totemic but ultimately irrelevant. Karie and Seumas have had power of attorney for months, if not years. They are culpable and they need to go, along with their army of acolytes.
"Normal service will not be resumed next week. Even the project’s supine fellow-travellers, who’ve served on the frontbench or just kept their heads down, know it’s crunch time.
"They will administer the final blows at the PLP on Tuesday night."
Jennie Formby, Labour's general secretary, wrote to party staff on Friday warning them that they faced the axe in the wake of the election result.
She said because of the reduction in so-called "Short Money" - cash given to opposition parties from the public purse - Labour would no longer be able to afford to employ them all.
However, becuase they are on permanent contracts, it is understood that Mr Milne and Ms Murphy's posts are not part of the review.
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