Jeremy Corbyn voted the most popular Labour leader in new poll

LBC: Keir Starmer denies Jeremy Corbyn is a friend Jeremy Corbyn is now the most popular current or former Labour leader, a new poll has revealed. The survey, conducted by YouGov, put the former Labour leader on 30 percent approval. Sir Keir Starmer is one point behind, with an approval rating of 29 percent. Gordon Brown comes in in third place, with 27 percent approval, while Tony Blair has 24 percent approval. Ed Miliband is three points behind, with 21 percent approval. The poll, conducted between April and June 2023, spoke to 1,178 people. Labour MP Diane Abbott shared the poll on Twitter, describing it as “remarkable”. The Corbyn ally said: “Jeremy Corbyn is now the most popular current or former Labour leader. “Remarkable given the unremitting hostility to him of the Labour Party establishment.” Jeremy Corbyn has the highest approval rating of Labour leaders The shock poll results come amid allegations of a “purge” of the left-wing of the Labour party. Last night, veteran MP John McDonnell described Sir Keir’s supporters as being “drunk with power”, claiming the “right-wing faction” is weakening the party. Mr McDonnell said he has raised his concerns with Sir Keir in writing, warning: “If you stumble, these are the people that will come for you.” Speaking to BBC Newsnight, he said: “What [Keir Starmer’s] allowed to happen is a right-wing faction [has] become drunk with power and use devices within the party almost on a search and destroy of the left. Sir Keir Starmer is one point behind, with an approval rating of 29 percent SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info “They seem to be more interested in destroying the presence of the left in the party than getting a Labour government.” Aspiring MPs have claimed they are being excluded from an approved list of parliamentary candidates drawn up by Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee. Earlier this year, Hilary Schan, co-chair of Labour left wing group Momentum, said it was a difficult time for the left of the party. She claimed left-wing members had seen “reams of unjustified suspensions over the last couple of years and more recently the stitch-ups with the selections taking away local members’ voices”.