'Battle for Labour's soul': what the papers say about Jeremy Corbyn's suspension

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s suspension of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, in response to the long-awaited report on an investigation into antisemitism in the party dominates the front pages today.

The Guardian’s front page reports that Labour has been “plunged into crisis” after Corbyn was suspended for saying antisemitism within the party was “dramatically overstated for political reasons”. The paper adds that the decision to suspend the leftwinger has “led to rumours of a split”.

Unite union leader Len McClusky has spoken out against the move, calling it a “grave injustice” and warning that “a split party will be doomed to defeat” in the next general election.

The Times calls what comes next “The battle for Labour’s soul”. Figures on the left of the party said Corbyn’s suspension amounted to a “full-scale civil war on his supporters”, the paper reports. According to one such person, quoted anonymously, “it will consume the leader for the next four years and tank his chances at the next general election”.

The Daily Telegraph focuses on the “civil war” theme, with the headline “Shaming of Corbyn sparks Labour civil war”.

The Telegraph’s story quotes a source saying Corbyn has an “army behind him” and also details Corbyn’s “war chest of £350,000 which he could use to take action agains the party”.

The Independent, referring to a statement by Starmer, headlines its story “Labour’s day of shame” and devotes much of the beginning of its report to Corbyn’s response to the suspension. The paper quotes former shadow chancellor John McDonnell describing the decision to suspend Corbyn as “profoundly wrong”.

The main story on the Financial Times front page is on the US elections next week, but Corbyn’s suspension appears under the headline “Labour strikes: Corbyn hit by suspension”.

The Daily Mail bids “R.I.P. Corbyn’s legacy of hate” and reports how “Labour exploded into brutal civil warfare”.

Metro puts a lid on it with “Corbinned”, using an unflattering photograph of Corbyn in wonky glasses and a mask, captioned “unmasked”. The photograph of Starmer has him striding forth, “Looking to the future”.

The Daily Mirror leads on “Starmer’s Zero Tolerance”.

The Jewish Telegraph’s word of choice is “Whipped!” while the Jewish News, using another photograph of Corbyn in his mask with an uncovered nose – this time in profile – deems him “Unmasked”.

Finally, the socialist Morning Star is, not surprisingly, keeping the faith. It calls Corbyn on its poster front page “Anti-racist to his core”: