Keep faith with your shadow cabinet, Tribune chief tells Corbyn

A leading backbencher has urged Jeremy Corbyn to keep faith with the shadow cabinet that “remained loyal” and helped spur him to a surprise performance in the general election.

Clive Efford, chair of the Tribune Group, spoke out as speculation intensified that Corbyn could seek to bring back a series of big-hitters, such as Yvette Cooper and Chuka Umunna, in a reshuffle.

Corbyn faces conflicting demands from his MPs, after health spokesman Jon Ashworth yesterday urged the leader to “strengthen the squad”, but last night Efford called for the existing shadow cabinet to be rewarded by keeping their jobs.

Many of the shadow team were derided as the “c-team” when they were appointed in the aftermath of the summer “coup” last year, and as former ministers remained on the backbenches, but several of the group, such as Andrew Gwynne and Emily Thornberry, proved themselves to be combative performers who led strong attack on the Tories.

Efford said this work should now be recognised.

“Jeremy has got a shadow cabinet that remained loyal and allowed him to perform extremely well during the general election,” he told The Guardian.

“He can’t sack those people. They deserve to be rewarded for what they have done. We need to get behind those people and give them all the support [we] can.”

Efford, who leads the 75-plus Tribune group of Labour MPs, which was relaunched last year, was among several senior figures – also including Harriet Harman – who have heralded Corbyn’s performance in the campaign.

“We questioned whether voters would be prepared to get behind Jeremy at a general election. The opinion polls suggested we were right about that. But it has to be said that Jeremy is a brilliant campaigner and did extraordinarily well,” Efford said.

“People have had a good look at him and found that they can get behind him. They see him as a credible leader.”