Labour donor says Corbyn victory could lead to an “SDP-style split”, as Corbyn calls for “silly remarks” to end

One of Labour’s biggest donors has said there could be an “SDP-style split” if Jeremy Corbyn is elected leader of the Labour party. But the contender has said that the “silly remarks” over the leadership contest need to end.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and political strategist John McTernan are among some who have said that a Corbyn victory in the leadership contest would be a disaster for the party. At an event organised by Progress, Blair told an audience on Wednesday that “people who say their heart is with Corbyn, get a transplant”. Meanwhile, McTernan said that MPs who had nominated Corbyn to ensure he made it onto the ballot were “morons”.

These comments came after a YouGov polled showed Corbyn on course to eventually triumph with 53% of the vote.

Now John Mills, one of the biggest Labour donors, has told the Guardian that Corbyn’s election could lead to a “SDP-style split” and mean many wealthy donors would withdraw their support for the party. Mills, who has given money to Liz Kendall’s campaign, said: “If Corbyn won, I suspect what would happen is that there would be some sort of split. Then you would have an SDP-type party.”

He argued: “The Labour party has a spectrum of donors. I suspect that some of the major donors would be less likely to give, and so the amount of donations would go down [if Corbyn was elected leader]. But at the same time donations from trade unions could go up,”

Kendall has also said that it “would be a disaster” for Labour if Corbyn won. Alan Milburn, former health secretary echoed these comments, saying: “I’m afraid history tells a very brutal lesson about what happens when Labour lurches to the left. You are out of office, not for five years or 10, but for very many years to come. Now, if the Labour party really does have a death wish, then that is where it will go.”

When asked about these remarks, the Islington North MP told the BBC: “I think politics should be conducted on a comradely and friendly basis, and if people disagree with each other then say what they disagree on, and let’s keep these silly remarks to themselves.”