Former Labour leader and Islwyn MP Lord Kinnock has told BBC One’s Panorama that his party is facing its greatest crisis.
Lord Kinnock, who led the party in opposition between 1983 and 1992 and battled against hard-left party factions, said he was doubtful the party would regain power if Jeremy Corbyn remained as leader.
In an interview to be screened tonight, he told BBC Deputy Political Editor John Pienaar: “This is the greatest crisis that the Labour Party has faced.
“I’m 74, and unless things change radically and rapidly, it’s very doubtful that I will see another Labour government in my lifetime.”
Mr Corbyn will find out if he has won the current Labour leadership race with Pontypridd MP Owen Smith on Saturday, although it is expected he will be re-elected.
Panorama – Labour: Is the party over? is broadcast on BBC One on Monday September 19 at 8.30pm.
Does anyone listen to what Lord Kinnock says? A man who was once far to the left of the man he critiscises, Corbyn, and was critical of Britain’s sucessful effort to free the Falkland Islands from tyranny. He led Labour to a fourth election defeat and then changed his politics completely and went off to make lots of money in the EU.
I don’t agree with much of what Corbyn says but give him full credit as a man with principles who has held the same views consistently for several decades. Kinnock says that Labour won’t win under Corbyn but neither did they win under his leadership. Kinnock holds the British record for the longest time as leader of the opposition, losing two general elections. Now fabulously wealthy and prone to dressing in ermine robes he still thinks people want to listen to his views. The man is delusional.
I would call him a spent force but he was nothing to be reckoned with in the first place.
He’s just upset his gravy train has been stopped.