Senior Labour figures play down Miliband plot but jitters remain
SENIOR Labour figures last night played down claims that a number of its MPs want leader Ed Miliband to step down, despite a clutch of anonymous sources claiming the party was on the brink of collapse.
One of Miliband’s closest advisers, Lord Stewart Wood, told CityAM that he was yet to hear anyone call for the leader to resign, adding that reports had been based on “anonymous remarks about the possibility of a call”. A senior shadow cabinet source also backed Miliband, saying that the speculation was “the usual moaners and malcontents mouthing off”.
But pressure on Labour’s leader, who dismissed the claims as “nonsense”, has been mounting following a spate of poor personal and national poll ratings and shaky performances in the House. A veteran Labour MP told The Times yesterday: “I don’t know a single shadow cabinet member who thinks we can win,” adding that a plot does exist.