Jeremy Corbyn: If offered a positions, he’ll be ‘happy to serve’ in Rebecca Long-Bailey’s shadow cabinet

Jeremy Corbyn has said he would consider serving in the shadow cabinet if offered a job by his successor as Labour leader.

The Labour leader said he acknowledged his party had lost the election but he was proud of the campaign they had fought. Mr Corbyn said that Brexit was a “chasm that was too great for us to cross during that election”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t rule out serving in the shadow cabinet under the party’s next leader Speaking on a visit to flood-affected areas of Pontypridd in south Wales, Mr Corbyn says he would be “happy to serve the party in any capacity”

Jeremy Corbyn has said is “happy to serve” in a shadow cabinet led by Rebecca Long-Bailey.

The shadow business secretary, who gave the Labour leader 10/10, has said she would offer Mr Corbyn a role if she wins the contest to succeed him.

The MP for Islington North said he has been “proud to lead the party for the past five years” and of the growth in the membership over the period.

Speaking after visiting flood victims in South Wales, Jeremy Corbyn said: “Since I became leader of the party our membership has trebled to 600,000.

“My whole life has been about making my contribution in Parliament, holding the Government to account and for speaking up in policy areas.

“We have developed policies which are all about sharing wealth in our society, about challenging austerity and inequality and we fought the election on those promises.

“I fully recognise we didn’t win the election, but Brexit was a chasm that was too great for us to cross during that election.

“I simply say to all those that want to analyse our party: this country is one of the most unequal in Europe.

Pressed on whether he would take a cabinet role if offered, Corbyn stated that he would “see what it is”.

He added: “I’m happy to serve the party in any capacity.

He added: “I didn’t know I was going to be offered anything. You’re telling me something I didn’t know.”

Corbyn or policy’s were not the issue. The Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer’s insistence on a second referendum was.

Labour’s individual policies, as many opinion polls have pointed out, were often highly popular. In 2018, for instance, a poll published by the Legatum Institute and Populus found that voters supported public ownership of the UK’s water (83 per cent), electricity (77 per cent), gas (77 per cent) and railways (76 per cent). Around two-thirds of voters supported policies such as higher taxation of top-earners, increased workers’ rights and a £10 minimum wage.

Voters are weary of the substandard service and excessive prices that characterise many private companies. (And saw the commanding heights of the British banking system renationalised following the financial crisis.) 

While the evidence shows that Corbyn’s leadership became unpopular, this was a reflection of leadership that was profoundly linked to his Brexit position, gifting the Conservatives the “dither and delay” line they were able to use so effectively. – Brexit – provides the most plausible way of summing up Labour’s defeat in one word.

Corbyn himself should be thanked and honoured for the work he as done throughout his political career, not least for giving Left wing politics a real lease of life after New Labour and Tony Blair made Labour so toxic.