Labour leader says ‘it’s not about me’ as he launches party’s campaign

Jeremy Corbyn has insisted Labour’s 2019 general election campaign is “not about me”, as he declined to say whether he would step aside if the party failed to dislodge Boris Johnson from Downing Street in six weeks.

The Labour leader launched his party’s campaign with an upbeat speech to a packed hall at Battersea Arts Centre, in London, where a crowd of activists stamped and cheered, at times breaking into chants of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn”.

Asked what he would do if his party failed to get in to government, Corbyn replied: “It’s not about me, it’s not about any of the people on this platform, it’s not a presidential election. It’s about each and every one of us standing as Labour candidates.”

In contrast, during the 2017 general election campaign, Corbyn made clear that he intended to stay on as Labour leader, regardless of the outcome. But two years on, even close allies are discussing what will happen next if he does not become the prime minister.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, recently told former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell in GQ magazine that he “can’t see”, either himself or Corbyn staying on if Labour doesn’t win. “What we’d do is, as the tradition, which is have an election for a new leader,” McDonnell said.

Labour is entering the campaign significantly behind the Conservatives in national polling, and with Jo Swinson’s Liberal Democrats hoping to capitalise on the frustration of remain voters over what she claims is Labour’s willingness to enable Brexit.

If there is no overall winner in the election, McDonnell clarified on Thursday that Labour would not do any deals with other parties. “We would run a minority government. We’d implement the policies and we’d expect the other parties to support them. If they didn’t, well, we’ll go back to the people. Look, who wouldn’t vote for a £10 living wage? Who wouldn’t vote for the way in which we want to solve Brexit, going back to the people?” he said.

Corbyn insisted the party’s army of members were up for the fight – even if “the rivers freeze over” during a campaign in the cold weather and dark nights of November and December. He kicked off his party’s “people-powered” campaign, on the day the prime minister missed his “do or die” Brexit deadline.

Johnson has sought to blame the Labour leader for the fact that the government’s Brexit deal was not passed in parliament. But Corbyn insisted Johnson “has failed, and that failure is his alone”.

General election: Corbyn to position Labour as true 'party of the people' Read more

“After three long years of Brexit divisions and failure from the Tories, we have to get this issue sorted out. We need to take it out of the hands of politicians and trust the people to have the final say,” Corbyn said.

Unlike Johnson, who is promising to “get Brexit done” if he is handed a Tory majority, Labour’s plan is to negotiate a new Brexit deal within three months – and put it to a referendum within six.

Corbyn said voters would be asked to choose between a “sensible” Brexit deal, and staying in the EU, a policy Corbyn said “really isn’t that complicated”.

With his shadow cabinet sitting on stage behind him, and to enthusiastic cheers and whistles from the packed hall, Corbyn told his audience: “The choice could not be clearer” for a general election he called a once-in-a-generation chance to reshape Britain.

He said Johnson’s party would “only ever look after the privileged few”, and highlighted Labour policies, including free prescription charges and personal care for the elderly, an end to university tuition fees, and 30 hours’ free childcare for 2- to 4-year-olds.

Corbyn repeatedly asked his audience: “Is that too much to ask?” They shouted: “No,” in reply.

And when he promised Labour would not open up the NHS to US corporations as part of a free-trade deal with Donald Trump’s White House, his audience repeatedly chanted: “Not for sale! Not for sale!” This issue is expected to feature heavily in Labour’s campaign.

Afterwards, in response to questions, Corbyn declined to say whether all members of the current shadow cabinet would retain the corresponding job if Labour forms the next government.

He said that “it really would not be appropriate, here on this platform,” to speculate about their futures.

The shadow cabinet has been riven by tensions over a number of issues in recent months, most clearly over Brexit – and at one recent meeting Corbyn reminded colleagues not to stray from the party’s policy in their public statements.

Labour’s manifesto is being drawn up in the coming days; but Corbyn also declined to say whether it would incorporate all of the radical policies passed at its conference in Brighton last month.

Asked whether he would “Abolish Eton”, as one motion had it, he made clear the final decision would be taken at the “clause V” meeting, which makes the final decision about the policy platform.

“For starters, we will definitely be making sure that all those private schools – public schools as they call themselves – will actually have to pay their taxes in a fair and proper way,” he said.

In his speech, the Labour leader styled himself as the enemy of an “establishment elite”, afraid of paying their taxes. “We know whose side we, the Labour party, are on,” he said, in an attempt to neutralise Johnson’s claim to support the “people” against parliament.

He also took aim at a series of individuals including “bad bosses” such as Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley, “big polluters” such as Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe, “greedy bankers” such as financier Crispin Odey and “billionaire media barons” like Rupert Murdoch.

The 12 December general election was triggered on Tuesday, after Labour dropped its objections to Johnson’s plan for an early poll.