LABOUR’S inner turmoil continues with one senior figure saying sacking frontbenchers in a so-called revenge reshuffle would betray Jeremy Corbyn’s original promise of a new, kinder politics while other party sources warned any purge could spark a "mass walkout" by shadow ministers.
Speculation has been rife over the festive period that the Labour leader is preparing as early as next week to clear out what one left-wing colleague dubbed “mutineers”; figures like Hilary Benn, and Maria Eagle, were among 11 frontbenchers who voted for airstrikes in Syria.
But another, Michael Dugher, the shadow culture secretary, warned that kicking out frontbench members in retaliation was "not very new politics" while his colleague Jon Ashworth, the shadow minister without portfolio, stressed how the party needed to focus on attacking the Conservatives and not “internal squabbles".
Questions have been raised over Mr Benn's future after his bravura Commons speech in support of intervention in Syria against Islamic State won widespread plaudits from across Westminster and overshadowed the party leader.
Rosie Winterton's position as chief whip is also believed to be precarious after she orchestrated the decision to allow Labour MPs a free vote on the issue.
In an article for the left-wing New Statesman magazine, Mr Dugher drew a parallel with the Star Wars' franchise, saying film-maker George Lucas rejected the use of the word revenge in the title of one of the films because it "wasn't the Jedi way".
The Barnsley MP said: "Revenge is not very Jedi. It's also not very new politics. Next week, when the Commons returns from recess, all Labour's energy should be focused on getting after the Tories."
Tensions surrounding Mr Corbyn's expected reshuffle were fuelled by Labour whip Grahame Morris who urged him to sack "mutineers".
Mr Ashworth said the County Durham MP had since recognised that he had made a "daft error" and urged party members to "calm down".
"I honestly don't know who has been stoking all this speculation in the newspapers, it is not very helpful," he declared.
The Leicester MP admitted 2015 had been a "rotten year" for Labour.
"Of course, it is up to Jeremy whether he reshuffles his shadow cabinet; that's one of the responsibilities he has been given by being elected leader,” he insisted.
But Mr Ashworth added: “Party members want us to come back in January, focus on the campaigning, focus on the local elections we have got coming up in May, focus on holding the Government to account in the Commons for their failure over preparing the country for floods and not get into these internal squabbles about who's up and who's down."
However, senior party sources told the PoliticsHome website that angry Labour frontbenchers could stage a "mass walkout" if Mr Benn were sacked.
"A mass walkout is something that is being actively considered,” claimed one insider, adding: "What has Hilary Benn done to deserve getting fired? Nothing. He's seen as one of the best performing members of the shadow cabinet and is someone who is highly-regarded across the party. He's not a divisive figure.”
Elsewhere, Mr Dugher and Mr Ashworth were among Labour colleagues who took to twitter to congratulate Ms Winterton, the MP for Doncaster Central, on being “made a dame” in the New Year Honours list hours before any announcement was formally due.
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