Corbyn would find being prime minister 'terrifying', senior Labour figure claims

Manoeuvring over succession under way at party's annual conference in Brighton

Jeremy Corbyn would find becoming prime minister "terrifying" and may not last much longer as Labour leader, a senior party figure has claimed.

Manoeuvring over the party’s leadership positions at the annual conference in Brighton is being seen as a bid by the left-wing faction around Mr Corbyn to seize control of the succession if he stands down suddenly.

Mr Corbyn himself insisted he was enjoying the job and will serve a full five-year term in office if he wins the general election expected within months. This would take the 70-year-old to the brink of his 75th birthday in 2024.

The role could be thrust upon him suddenly if he is invited by the Queen to form a national unity administration after a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson, or if the PM resigns rather than request a Brexit extension from Brussels.

The senior Labour figure said he believed Mr Corbyn would be “terrified” by this prospect, as his personality was not suited to the demands of the premiership.

“If Jeremy had to become prime minister, he would find that terrifying,” the MP told The Independent.

“He doesn’t like taking decisions, he doesn’t want to be the person who has 20 text messages to deal with before he goes to bed at midnight and is woken up at 6am with more demands on his time.

“He’s happy when he’s got something to push back against, but when power becomes more real and he’s got to reconcile competing interests, he can’t do it.”

The MP said there was a “twilight of the patriarchs” mood among Mr Corbyn’s supporters, who were actively working on the assumption that a succession could not be delayed for long – and would certainly come swiftly if Labour loses the election.

But the faction was itself divided on the best replacement, with different candidates favoured by individuals linked to the Unite movement and others from the Corbyn-backing Momentum.

Momentum leader Jon Lansman made an abortive effort on Friday to abolish the position of Labour deputy leader, in what was seen as an attempt to prevent current holder Tom Watson from being heir apparent in the case of a sudden change of power.

After a furious backlash from Labour figures including former leaders Ed Miliband and Tony Blair, Mr Corbyn intervened on Saturday to order a “review” of the position with a view to having two deputies – one male and one female.

The intervention effectively kicked the issue into the long grass for a year and pulled the rug from under Mr Lansman.

But the ruling National Executive Committee, which has a left-wing majority, approved a separate rule change giving it the power to choose an interim leader if Mr Corbyn stands down or is incapacitated.

Who will succeed Corbyn? Labour factions appear to be positioning themselves (AFP/Getty)

Mr Corbyn himself played down suggestions he may step down, insisting he would “of course” serve a full term as prime minister if Labour wins the election.

He told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I’m taking the party into the general election... to end austerity, to bring forward policies that bring about a better standard of living and better opportunities for people all across this country.

“I’m enjoying doing that, I’m campaigning all the time – I did 40 events during August alone all around the country.”

And one shadow cabinet minister laughed off any suggestion that Mr Corbyn might be tiring of the job: “Jeremy is more than capable of leading the party in five years’ time.

“What’s wrong with 75-year-olds? Donald Trump is 73 – maybe we should just give Jeremy a wig and some fake tan.”

Corbyn-backing Unite union boss Len McCluskey dismissed suggestions that the Labour leader might quit.

“I have never met a stronger individual than Jeremy Corbyn,” Mr McCluskey told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

“All this stuff about his age and he’s not looking well – he’s already seen off a few Conservative prime ministers in David Cameron and Theresa May and when we get a chance in a general election he’ll see a third off.”