General election 2017: Labour faces split as manifesto leaks
Jeremy Corbyn's plans to renationalise railways and energy company revealed in draft document

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
As many as 100 Labour MPs might form a breakaway group in parliament if Jeremy Corbyn refuses to stand down if the party loses the general election, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The claim was published shortly before the party's draft manifesto, due to be signed off today, was leaked to two newspapers and the BBC.
It reveals that "Labour would renationalise energy companies, railways and the Royal Mail under its most socialist policies for a generation", says The Times, with spending coming from an increase in corporation tax and a rise in income tax for the richest five per cent of workers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In addition, zero-hours contracts would be banned, tuition fees scrapped, the NHS salary cap abandoned and an extra £8bn spent on social care.
The leaked document, which senior Labour figures have said is genuine, also says no "false promises" will be made on immigration.
Corbyn declined to comment on the leak, but the Tories described the draft manifesto as "a total shambles" and claimed it would cost tens of billions of pounds.
Laura Kuenssberg of the BBC says the policies "will be manna from heaven for Jeremy Corbyn's supporters".
However, she adds, although it "contains ideas that poll well with swathes of voters", it "could be a challenge to the concept of pleasing much of the traditional centre ground of 'Middle England'".
With polls predicting a landslide win for the Conservatives and the Labour leader pledging to carry on regardless after 8 June, the Daily Telegraph says Labour faces a "historic split" and that several candidates are talking to potential donors about forming a new progressive group in the Commons.
Although there is no intention to form a new party, Labour politicians could resign the whip and become independents grouped together under the same banner. This would enable them to rejoin the party if they wished.
This "well-organised anti-Corbyn faction", which would sit on the backbenches, "could make it difficult for the current Labour leadership to form a viable opposition because of a shortage of MPs to take up shadow cabinet posts", says the Telegraph.
"There will be a blood-letting in July," a Labour source said. "Sensible people are going to walk away. There is talk of a realignment because we can't allow this to continue."
The latest polls put the Tories ahead by 20 points, meaning Labour could end up with as few as 160 MPs.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Consumption rooms: a legal place for illegal drugs?
Talking Point Scotland approves UK's first trial facility where users can take drugs under medical supervision
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
'Biden must be embarrassed he didn't think of this first'
Instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass Published
-
'Suella Braverman went to Washington to talk tough… in an empty room'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why is the UK pushing Germany on fighter jets for Saudi Arabia?
Today's big question Berlin has opposed the sale of weapons to Riyadh on humanitarian grounds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Is it time the world re-evaluated the rules on migration?
Today's Big Question Home Secretary Suella Braverman questions whether 1951 UN Refugee Convention is 'fit for our modern age'
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rishi Sunak's tree code: what is the PM's election strategy?
Today's Big Question Conservative leader lining up major policy announcements in bid to rebrand as 'change' candidate
By Elliott Goat Published
-
What's the point of party conferences?
Talking Point The annual gatherings have quirky rituals and eccentric attendees but also act as 'important way-markers for our politics'
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Will Rishi Sunak's green wedge issue win over the public?
Today's Big Question The PM draws dividing line with Labour on net zero ahead of the next general election
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Industry backlash as Sunak set to water down green pledges
Speed Read Automotive and energy bosses look for clarity after PM backs away from UK net zero goal
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
October by-elections: what's at stake for Labour, Lib Dems and Tories
Parties will contest two former safe Tory seats on 19 October, putting pressure on Rishi Sunak
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
'If Starmer seeks advice from Macron then God help Britain'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week Staff Published