'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.
Guardian front page, Friday 30 October 2020: Labour plunged into crisis after Corbyn suspended pic.twitter.com/pl5c01uduC
— The Guardian (@guardian) October 29, 2020
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”.
Friday's Times: Battle for Labour’s soul as Corbyn is suspended #TomorrowsPapersToday #TheTimes #Times pic.twitter.com/WVrr3kZj0Z
— Tomorrow's Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) October 29, 2020
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”.
Tomorrow’s Telegraph front page: “Shaming of Corbyn sparks Labour civil war”#TomorrowsPapersToday
Read here: https://t.co/YTH8ciAROt pic.twitter.com/iiqRSToU4N— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 29, 2020
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”.
Friday's front page: Labour facing civil war after Jeremy Corbyn is suspended#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/zWAytfexcr
— i newspaper (@theipaper) October 29, 2020
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/koJc3LN1ax pic.twitter.com/GRRCw2u4rj
— Thair Shaikh (@ThairShaikh) October 29, 2020
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”.
FT: @realDonaldTrump seizes on record growth in late push to close gap on @JoeBiden #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/oXLJgEZANC
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 29, 2020
The Daily Mail bids “R.I.P. Corbyn’s legacy of hate” and reports how “Labour exploded into brutal civil warfare”.
Friday’s Mail:
“R.I.P. Corbyn's legacy of hate”
#BBCPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/AbOJ9r0UIg— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) October 29, 2020
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”.
METRO: Corbinned #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/g5oucXV4qR
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 29, 2020
The Daily Mirror leads on “Starmer’s Zero Tolerance”.
Tomorrow’s #frontpage - Labour Anti-Semitism Row: Starmer’s Zero Tolerance #tomorrowspaperstoday
Read more: https://t.co/WIyhATiEnp pic.twitter.com/hyFfUhnnoR— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) October 29, 2020
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”.
JEWISH TELEGRAPH: Whipped! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/E6c9wtvfDa
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 29, 2020
JEWISH NEWS: Unmasked #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ZlUM74Hkf2
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 29, 2020
Finally, the socialist Morning Star is, not surprisingly, keeping the faith. It calls Corbyn on its poster front page “Anti-racist to his core”:
MORNING STAR: Anti-racist to his core #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/dZXkpZVEmN
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 29, 2020