John McDonnell has refused to back Labour’s shadow foreign secretary following a weekend of speculation that there will be a shadow cabinet reshuffle next week.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the shadow chancellor refused to say that Hilary Benn would keep his job, instead saying: “The future Labour administration will be determined by the leader of the Labour party.”

The exchange follows unsourced briefings to several newspapers claiming that Benn and the shadow defence secretary, Maria Eagle, could be moved from their roles.

McDonnell added that Benn had “an important part to play” for Labour but did not say he would keep his current role.

It is understood Corbyn wants the party to speak with one voice on matters relating to defence and military intervention abroad after recent divisions, most notably over policy on Syria.

Benn, who was praised by the right and the centre of the party for his speech supporting government proposals to bomb Isis in Syria, and Eagle are seen as vulnerable in any reshuffle, although other figures could also be affected.

However, any attempt to remove either could result in a damaging conflict across the parliamentary Labour party and could result in resignations from the shadow cabinet, according to one shadow cabinet source.

Corbyn’s unilateralism, and opposition to military intervention were a key feature of his leadership campaign. Eagle is believed to be at risk because she is a staunch defender of Trident, while Benn’s position is being seen as problematic because he strongly supported military intervention against Islamic State in Syria after Corbyn spoke out against it.

Tensions surrounding the expected reshuffle were stoked by Labour whip Grahame Morris, who urged Corbyn to sack disloyal shadow ministers. “This is what Jeremy Corbyn should do in 2016 – starting with a reshuffle that gets rid of mutineers,” he wrote on Twitter.

His comment provoked an angry response from Labour backbencher Ian Austin, who said Morris had previously been a serial rebel. “Very funny: grahamemorris, who voted against whip repeatedly, wants people sacked after a free vote! Come on Grahame, name the ‘mutineers’!” he responded on Twitter.



The shadow cabinet reshuffle is due in the new year, although claims that Monday 4 January has been pencilled in as the day for it to happen have been discounted, as have claims that Corbyn has already decided to appoint Diane Abbott as the new shadow foreign secretary or to replace Rosie Winterton, the chief whip, with the Corbyn loyalist Jon Trickett.

The full scale of Labour’s reshuffle has not been decided. Corbyn’s main concern is said to be ensuring the party has a coherent voice on questions relating to the deployment of British power abroad, but he may well go further than reallocating defence or foreign affairs. Corbyn accepts that his first shadow cabinet was put together quickly.



His allies believe that the Labour split over foreign policy has overshadowed the extent to which the shadow cabinet is united on economic and domestic matters.

But some senior figures who might expect to know about the plans denied all knowledge on Tuesday. Tom Watson, the deputy leader, seen as a link between the leader’s office and the parliamentary party, told the Guardian he knew nothing about a reshuffle.

“I have not been made aware that a reshuffle is due,” he said. “What I have seen is that there has been much speculation over Christmas.

“Any reshuffle is for the leader of the Labour party. It is a very lonely job. I’m sure that if there is going to be one he will let me know. Leaders have to pick the team they want and I will make my views clear,” he said.

One party source said Labour’s leader was receiving conflicting advice from his closest confidants as to whether to launch a major reshuffle. “Some want to go all out for a hard-left agenda now. Others want to try and take the party with him. But if Benn or Eagle go [from the cabinet], others might follow,” the source said.