Labour leader to tour Tory marginal seats in preparation for any potential collapse of Theresa May’s minority government

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Jeremy Corbyn has told buoyant Labour MPs that he will visit at least 65 Conservative marginal seats in preparation for the possible collapse of the Tory minority government and urged them to be a “government in waiting”.



The Labour leader said Theresa May’s premiership had no mandate or legitimacy at the first meeting of the parliamentary party since Thursday’s election, and was praised by a succession of speakers for cutting the Tories’ majority.

The scenes took place in the same select committee corridor in the House of Commons where he has previously been booed and heckled by colleagues concerned that Labour would be wiped out by May. On Tuesday, the Labour leader was greeted with a standing ovation, desk-banging and cheers before being praised for running a principled campaign.

May strikes conciliatory tone as Corbyn gently mocks her 'coalition of chaos' Read more

He told MPs: “So now the election is over, the next phase of our campaign to win power for the majority has already begun. We must remain in permanent campaign mode on a general election footing.

“We achieved what we did last Thursday because we were a united party during the campaign and we need to maintain that unity and collective discipline in the weeks and months ahead.

“We will continue to take the fight to the Tories and I will be out campaigning around the country in Conservative marginals in those extra seats we need to gain to deliver the government for the many that almost 13 million people voted for last week.”

The MP for Islington North praised party workers and supporters for a remarkable result.

“Last Thursday, we turned the tables on Theresa May’s gamble and gained seats in every region and nation of Britain and I’m particularly delighted that we have increased our representation in Scotland.

“We increased the Labour vote by the largest margin in any election since 1945 and gained seats as a party for the first time since 1997.”

“Now as parliament returns, we have a government in complete disarray still unable to reach an agreement, it seems, with the DUP and desperately delaying the Queen’s speech and Brexit negotiations.

“Far from being strong and stable, the government Theresa May is putting together is weak, wobbly and out of control. This is a government on notice.

“Theresa May has no mandate and no legitimacy for policies that do not have the support of the majority of the British people.”

Corbyn also told MPs he wanted to learn lessons why they lost in some areas, and said he would be meeting candidates who lost their seats.

Tom Watson, the party’s deputy leader, was cheered when he said that former SNP leader Alex Salmond’s defeat in Banff was the “Portillo moment of the night”, referring to former Tory defence minister Michael Portillo’s defeat by relatively unknown Labour candidate Stephen Twigg in the 1997 election.

Former ministers and shadow ministers heaped praise upon Corbyn. Chuka Umunna, the former shadow business secretary, said: “Unity is the watchword, government is our aim.”

Another MP said: “He has performed a minor miracle, we have to give him time.”

However, one MP said that some in Labour are “keeping their powder dry” by biting their tongues. “Not everyone has bought in to Jeremy. But this is his moment.”

Labour’s hopes of unseating the Tories from power are now within its grasp if a general election is called within the next two years, according to Guardian analysis of the new electoral landscape.

Analysis of the new marginal seats shows that a swing of just 1.63% to Labour would deliver the 34 gains that Jeremy Corbyn needs to make it the largest party in the Commons.

Last Thursday’s general election left 22 Tory MPs sitting on majorities of less than 1,000. The home secretary, Amber Rudd, is now defending a majority of 346 in Hastings and Rye, while the former Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, has been similarly left defending a majority of 353 in Chipping Barnet.