Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has snubbed Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party.
Ballots for the party’s leadership election started arriving by email and post today.
But Mr Khan, who campaigned with the Islington North MP for Arsenal FC to pay the London living wage outside the club’s Emirates Stadium in November last year, urged voters to choose his leadership rival Owen Smith.
In a column for the Observer, the mayor, who nominated Mr Corbyn on last year’s leadership ballot, said: “By every available measure, if Jeremy remains as leader, Labour is extremely unlikely to win the next general election. The hopes of the members who have joined our party would be dashed again.
“Jeremy has already proved that he is unable to organise an effective team, and has failed to win the trust and respect of the British people.
“Jeremy’s personal ratings are the worst of any opposition leader on record – and the Labour party is suffering badly as a result. He has lost the confidence of more than 80% of Labour’s MPs in parliament – and I am afraid we simply cannot afford to go on like this.”
The election results will be announced on September 24.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here