Speculation is swirling in Labour circles that Corbyn is about to appoint New Economics Foundation chief and hardcore ex-Socialist Workers Party member James Meadway as his new economics adviser. This won’t be the last time you hear his name if it becomes official…

Just like Andrew Fisher, Meadway has openly backed non-Labour candidates in a number of elections, writing for the SWP splinter group Counterfire after George Galloway defeated Labour in Bradford West:

“All those who oppose austerity and war should be walking a little taller this morning… The gap between Britain’s corrupt and squalid political class, and those they claim to represent – already large – yawns wider as a result.”

He endorsed Tower Hamlets First (then independent) candidate Rubina Khan, who fought against Labour:

Meadway is an apologist for the disgraced wrong ‘un Lutfur Rahman. The full list of tweets on this is quite something:

And rejoiced when Dougie Alexander lost his seat:

He backed Caroline Lucas over the Labour candidate:

He also says Jim Murphy is “so, so far right”:

And of course supports boycotting Israel:

The fact Meadway was deleting his tweets late last night suggests there may be something in the rumours. Perhaps he too will say it was all a big joke? Lucky Guido has screengrabs.

Given Corbyn has just been embroiled in an almighty mess over Andrew Fisher backing rival candidates – something that is against Labour’s membership rules and he has had to apologise for – surely he will not appoint another adviser who has opposed Labour as recently as this year? Can’t he find any actual Labour supporters who are willing to work for him?