By John Stevens Deputy Political Editor For The Daily Mail
Published: 22:00 GMT, 17 February 2019 | Updated: 07:37 GMT, 18 February 2019
235 shares
1.3k
View
comments
Labour is edging towards a bitter split as up to a hundred MPs face the threat of a deselection battle.
Plans for a breakaway group have been accelerated by fears of a mass wave of challenges to sitting MPs.
Moderates believe party grandees including Ed Miliband, Harriet Harman, Yvette Cooper and Dame Margaret Beckett will all face attempts to oust them, along with Labour frontbenchers Diane Abbott and Dan Carden.
It is anticipated that around a quarter of the 100 MPs expected to be subject to a contest will lose, removing them as Labour candidates for the next election.
Moderates believe party grandees including Ed Miliband (left), Harriet Harman, Yvette Cooper (right) and Dame Margaret Beckett will all face attempts to oust them
Those seen as most at risk include Luciana Berger (pictured), Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith, who are all thought to be considering quitting the party as part of an imminent split
Those seen as most at risk include Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith, who are all thought to be considering quitting the party as part of an imminent split.
Others believed to have little chance of surviving deselection challenges include former party leadership candidates Mary Creagh and Angela Eagle, Commons Brexit committee chairman Hilary Benn, leading Brexiteer Kate Hoey and former international development spokesman Kate Osamor.
The deselection process does not usually happen until much nearer the next election, but Labour’s general secretary Jennie Formby has already started discussions on setting the timetable – raising fears it
