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Senior Labour figures are reportedly planning to flood the party with 100,000 new members in an effort to seize back control from Jeremy Corbyn’s left-wing stranglehold.

Mr Corbyn announced he would step down after a new leader is chosen “early next year” following the party’s worst general election result since 1935.

Alastair Campbell and Jess Phillips are said to be spearheading a new membership drive in a bid to “rebuild” the party.

Mr Campbell is the former communications chief to Tony Blair and was expelled from Labour after admitting he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections.

According to the Sunday Times, he said members who had left under Corbyn “might be helpful both in the analysis and the aftermath”.

Jess Phillips, thought to be a likely leadership candidate, appeared to set out her pitch in the Observer on Sunday. She appealed to people to join Labour to change it, arguing that many working-class people do not believe Labour is better than the Tories.

She tweeted on Saturday: “I don’t know what is going to happen but I know we need people in this fight.

“If you are upset with the result or if you are upset with the party you need to join. Labour members have actual power. You can change this.”

A former Labour MP told the Times: “There is a massive effort to get Labour moderates to join and rejoin. They think the magic number is 100,000 to elect a moderate leader and are launching a massive online drive to attract the required support.”

A “rebuild and rejoin” Twitter account urges followers to “think of three people who have left the party (and another) three who said they would vote under Labour under a different leader (and) ask them to rejoin”.

Lisa Nandy also laid out an apparent leadership pitch in the Observer on Sunday saying the party had lost touch with the day-to-day lives of the people it wishes to represent.

Writing in the Observer, Ms Phillips appealed to people to join Labour to change it, arguing that many working-class people do not believe Labour is better than the Tories.

While Ms Nandy said the party had lost touch with the day-to-day lives of the people it wishes to represent.

General Election Night: December 2019 - In pictures 45 show all General Election Night: December 2019 - In pictures 1/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory Jeremy Selwyn 2/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election PA 3/45 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow PA 4/45 Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs PA 5/45 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election PA 6/45 Boris Johnson press conference Jeremy Selwyn 7/45 Michael Gove Jeremy Selwyn 8/45 Dominic Cummings Jeremy Selwyn 9/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson's partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election PA 10/45 REUTERS 11/45 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party's headquarters Reuters 12/45 Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party's headquarters Reuters 13/45 A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow PA 14/45 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein's new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast AFP via Getty Images 15/45 DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre Getty Images 16/45 A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat Getty Images 17/45 Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election PA 18/45 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre Getty Images 19/45 Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh PA 20/45 Sinn Fein's John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O'Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast PA 21/45 A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results PA 22/45 Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London AFP via Getty Images 23/45 Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath Getty Images 24/45 Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg's wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath Getty Images 25/45 Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre Reuters 26/45 Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat PA 27/45 Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election PA 28/45 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party's headquarters Reuters 29/45 Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Hartlepool Reuters 30/45 Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency Getty Images 31/45 Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher Reuters 32/45 Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West Reuters 33/45 Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election Nigel Howard 34/45 Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election Nigel Howard 35/45 Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet Nigel Howard 36/45 General Election Count, Barnet Nigel Howard 37/45 The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House AP 38/45 Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre Reuters 39/45 The Labour Party's Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central PA 40/45 The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House AP 41/45 Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South Reuters 42/45 A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington Reuters 43/45 General Election Count, Barnet Nigel Howard 44/45 Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election Reuters 45/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn Jeremy Selwyn 1/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory Jeremy Selwyn 2/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election PA 3/45 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow PA 4/45 Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs PA 5/45 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election PA 6/45 Boris Johnson press conference Jeremy Selwyn 7/45 Michael Gove Jeremy Selwyn 8/45 Dominic Cummings Jeremy Selwyn 9/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson's partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election PA 10/45 REUTERS 11/45 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party's headquarters Reuters 12/45 Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party's headquarters Reuters 13/45 A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow PA 14/45 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein's new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast AFP via Getty Images 15/45 DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre Getty Images 16/45 A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat Getty Images 17/45 Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election PA 18/45 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre Getty Images 19/45 Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh PA 20/45 Sinn Fein's John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O'Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast PA 21/45 A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results PA 22/45 Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London AFP via Getty Images 23/45 Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath Getty Images 24/45 Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg's wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath Getty Images 25/45 Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre Reuters 26/45 Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat PA 27/45 Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election PA 28/45 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party's headquarters Reuters 29/45 Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Hartlepool Reuters 30/45 Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency Getty Images 31/45 Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher Reuters 32/45 Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West Reuters 33/45 Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election Nigel Howard 34/45 Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election Nigel Howard 35/45 Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet Nigel Howard 36/45 General Election Count, Barnet Nigel Howard 37/45 The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House AP 38/45 Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre Reuters 39/45 The Labour Party's Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central PA 40/45 The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House AP 41/45 Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South Reuters 42/45 A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington Reuters 43/45 General Election Count, Barnet Nigel Howard 44/45 Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election Reuters 45/45 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn Jeremy Selwyn

It comes as former Labour MPs and party veterans rounded on Mr Corbyn following Thursday’s defeat.

Ex-MPs Anna Turley and Helen Goodman and former shadow cabinet minister Jenny Chapman attacked the Labour leader as the reason voters cast their ballot for another party.

Ms Turley, who lost her seat in Redcar on Thursday, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "For me, when you're getting four doors in a row of lifelong Labour voters saying 'I'm sorry Anna, I'm a lifelong Labour voter, I like what you've done, but I just can't vote for that man to be prime minister', I'm afraid that's a fundamental barrier that we just couldn't get across."

Ex-shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman, another former Labour MP who lost her seat in Darlington, also attacked the party leadership.

She said: "You can't run a political party that wants to be a party of government but only really appeals to about a third of the electorate and those people that live in cities who are fairly well-off people.”

Senior Labour figures are plotting to end Jeremy Corbyn’s left-wing stranglehold on the party by flooding it with 100,000 new members to elect a moderate new leader.

As the battle for the control of Labour’s future begins, moderates joined a campaign to encourage former members to “rejoin and rebuild” the party.

Former Labour MP for Bishop Auckland Helen Goodman, who lost a seat she has held since 2005, laid the blame for Labour’s loss firmly at Corbyn’s door.

“The biggest factor was obviously the unpopularity of Jeremy Corbyn as leader. The fact of the matter is that Jeremy Corbyn failed as a communicator, whatever his good personal qualities, and he undoubtedly has good personal qualities, he failed as a communicator,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.