Corbyn ‘forced to ditch peerage for key ally’

Jeremy Corbyn retracted the tacit offer of a peerage to a close ally to instead reward the outgoing general secretary of the Labour Party, the Standard revealed. Sources say Murad Qureshi, chair of the Stop the War Coalition and a former London Assembly member, had been on a shortlist of three Left-wingers whom the Labour leader planned to put in the House of Lords.However, it is believed his name was withdrawn from consideration following Iain McNicol’s resignation as head of the Labour Party organisation.McNicol, a former trade unionist, had clashed with Corbyn and was seen as a block to the Left taking full control of the party. “It looks like McNicol drove a hard bargain, with the peerage part of his price for leaving,” a senior party figure told the Standard.McNicol’s peerage is expected to be confirmed shortly, possibly next week, alongside places in the Lords for nearly a dozen Brexit-backing Conservatives. Corbyn’s remaining two choices are Tony Woodley, former co-leader of the powerful Unite union, and former London councillor Martha Osamor, whose daughter Kate Osamor MP is the shadow international development secretary.A source claimed Qureshi was approached by an aide to Corbyn and asked if he would step aside for McNicol. The Standard understands he said he would not “make life difficult for Jeremy”.A senior Labour source, asked whether a peerage was withdrawn or if McNicol demanded one, said: “This is categorically untrue on both counts.”  McNicol’s exit from Labour HQ was followed by the resignation on Tuesday night of executive director for governance and membership Emilie Oldknow. A moderate who has been Labour’s most senior female staffer for six years, she had been considered a natural successor to McNicol but said in a letter to colleagues she had decided to step down this summer to pursue “other opportunities”. “With them both gone, Jeremy is now in complete control,” said one senior Labour figure.