John McDonnell and senior Smith supporters call for unity – and say a split isn’t on the cards

John McDonnell and several Owen-Smith backing Labour figures such as Chuka Umunna have called for party unity.

At last night’s LabourList rally Umunna, former shadow business secretary, emphatically encouraged Labour MPs and members who didn’t support Jeremy Corbyn in the leadership election to stay in the party. Umunna said a split would not solve Labour’s problems. His thoughts were echoed by Wes Streeting MP who said Labour must find a way to come together.

The shadow chancellor John McDonnell said unity was the “watchword” for the party during the annual conference, which runs until Wednesday in Liverpool. This comes after Corbyn increased his mandate, following the coup launched against him in June and ensuing leadership contest in which Smith has the contender.

The Corbyn ally said although he hadn’t wanted another leadership election so soon after the last, amid the disagreements, the summer had shown that the party agreed on many different policy areas. “We are now an anti-austerity party”, he told the packed room of Labour members.

Yvette Cooper and Lucy Powell were among others who spoke at the rally, calling for the party to find ways to work together after a bruising leadership contest over the summer.