Jeremy Corbyn 'planning to replace Hilary Benn with Emily Thornberry' in reshuffle

Jeremy Corbyn is lining up Emily Thornberry as his new foreign secretary to replace Hilary Benn, in a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet expected next week, the Sunday Telegraph understands.

The Labour leader is planning to appoint Thornberry, the former shadow attorney general, in place of Benn who openly defied him and backed plans to bomb ISIL targets in Syria according to friends of Corbyn, The Sunday Telegraph reported on Sunday.

Benn is expected to be offered another job in the shadow cabinet although it is not clear if he will accept an alternative position.

Speculation about a so-called “revenge reshuffle” after the Syria vote and ahead of a debate on renewal of the Trident nuclear system, which Corbyn opposes, has prompted anger among moderate Labour MPs.

One senior Labour MP said there will be “fury” if Mr Corbyn decides to replace Mr Benn as foreign secretary and warned that moving “soft-left” MPs out of the senior ranks sends a “worrying signal” to the party.

Friends of Mr Corbyn have said he intends to keep chief whip Rosie Winterton in place but is considering sacking her two deputies, Mark Tami and Alan Campbell – both seen as moderates.

Campbell also defied the leader and backed air strikes in Syria in a vote late last year, as did Maria Eagle, who is said to be in the firing line.

Corbyn is understood to want to rid his highest ranks of those who disobeyed him but Ms Winterton will be spared, despite speculation over her stance on Syria, after she abstained from the vote.

Source: MENA