Jeremy Corbyn leadership rival accused of being pro party split

Labour leadership challenger, Owen Smith, will be branded the “disunity” candidate, unless he condemns talk of a split in the party, shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has warned.

Mr McDonnell, who is running Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign to remain as leader, accused Mr Smith of “flip-flopping” in the wake of reports some MPs intended to trigger a “semi-split”.

“If he continues to refuse to denounce those calling for a split, then members will think he is simply trying to scaremonger them to vote for him by his talking-up of threats from a minority of MPs supporting his campaign, who are plotting to split our party, in Tory newspapers, while, at the same time, refusing to denounce them.