Karie Murphy with the Labour leader: insiders say the party’s general secretary, Iain McNicol, was pushed out

Jeremy Corbyn’s closest aide gloated that she had “got” Labour’s general secretary, Iain McNicol, days before he stood down last week.

Labour sources say Karie Murphy, the leader’s gatekeeper, contacted a friend on Tuesday to declare “I’ve got him”. McNicol’s departure was announced on Friday.

A source who spoke to McNichol said he had been thinking about leaving after seven years in the job. But other insiders claim that the leading moderate, who had clashed repeatedly with Corbyn’s team, was pushed out.

A veteran Labour figure said: “He was told if he didn’t go he would be forced out at the next NEC [national executive committee] meeting.”

Labour officials said he had no idea that a press release was being issued announcing his exit. They