Labour election chief SQUIRMS during SAVAGE grilling by Andrew Neil over general election
ANDREW Neil savaged Labour’s chief election coordinator after he refused three times to say whether the party would welcome a snap general election.
Andrew Gwynne: Labour is preparing for an early general election
Andrew Neil repeatedly asked whether Andrew Gwynne, the National Elections & Campaign Coordinator, whether Labour would back Theresa May’s expected bid for an early election.
Mrs May’s closest allies have discussed holding a snap election to give the Prime Minister a greater mandate for Brexit talks.
Conservative Party Chairman Patrick McLoughlin, Chief Whip Gavin Williamson and the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary George Hollingbery have pointed to a May 4 ballot in a plot to take seats from the SNP.
Mr Gwynne was pressed on whether Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party was ready to take on an election, given its dismal poll standings.
Andrew Neil had to ask the man leading Labour's electoral plan three times whether the left-wing party would vote for an early election.
And even then the MP for Denton & Reddish persistently avoided giving a clear response, instead claiming that Labour wants to be in Government without clarifying how it would go about that.
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Well, as an opposition party, and not wanting to be in opposition, we would have to consider it
Mr Gwynne told Sunday Politics: "Well of course, I don’t want this Government to be in power so if there is a chance to put our case to the country, we would want to do that.
"Well, as an opposition party, and not wanting to be in opposition, we would have to consider it. We are building up funds in the off-chance there is an election."
He also added that the Prime Minister would have to call an election by 27 March if she wanted the May ballot.
The MP said: "We have been preparing ourselves for an early General Election.
“We have been on an early election footing since Christmas. We will not only challenge the Government but offer a valuable alternative.”
Critics on social media noted the bizarre “reluctance” came from the man meant to be leading Labour’s election charge.
Others mocked the fact that Labour was on an election footing but still had not finalised their key policies.