Jeremy Corbyn set 'to put Labour on general election footing'

credit - Press Association

Jeremy Corbyn will put Labour on a "general election footing" if he is re-elected leader this weekend, it has been reported.

The Labour leader will instruct his MPs to vote in favour of any attempt by Theresa May to go to the country before 2020, according to the BBC's Newsnight.

Corbyn will say that the Prime Minister could call an election as early as next spring in order to win support for her Brexit negotiation strategy.

RELATED CONTENT 

Labour must ‘come together’ demands Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn set to increase mandate as leader, according to new poll

Shadow Cabinet member Jon Trickett also put Labour on a general election footing two months ago on the day Andrea Leadsom dropped out of the Tory leadership race, paving the way for May to enter Number 10.

Meanwhile, Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee will meet today to discuss calls for the return of Shadow Cabinet elections.

MPs back the plans, which will be formally tabled by Labour deputy leader Tom Watson.

It was revealed last week that if the elections - which were scrapped by former leader Ed Miliband - return, many anti-Corbyn rebels will seek to return to the party's frontbench.

Watson wants a deal agreed which can be voted on by next week's party conference.

The result of Labour’s leadership contest between Corbyn and Owen Smith will be announced on Saturday in Liverpool, where the party is to gather for its annual conference.