Tom Watson has long been a major power behind the throne in the Labour party – and now could be his moment to step forth and grab the crown.
Watson, Jeremy Corbyn’s deputy leader, is being talked up as a potential new leader by Labour MPs, who have been resigning en masse in a bid to depose Jeremy Corbyn.
He met with leading Labour MP Angela Eagle this afternoon – fueling speculation that one of them will now take a tilt at the crown.
I'm told Tom Watson & Angela Eagle meeting imminently to decide who runs against Corbyn in potential leadership challenge
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) June 28, 2016
Notably, Watson has not made any public move against Corbyn, unlike virtually all of this shadow cabinet colleagues – leaving him unscathed by serious accusations of betrayal.
Watson was also sure to be well clear of the smoking gun which began Labour’s shadow cabinet coup (or is it a Zionist plot?!?).
Around 5pm Tuesday, Corbyn lost a vote of no confidence – but flat-out refused to resign, meaning challengers must face Corbyn in a leadership vote.
When shadow foreign secretary Hillary Benn started the cascade of departutres Sunday morning, Watson was partying at a silent disco at Glastonbury Festival – and spent most of the day trying to get back to London.
Tom Robinson. Genius. @freshnet pic.twitter.com/fB39IyrU11
— tom_watson (@tom_watson) June 25, 2016
The lengths undertaken to emphasise that he was far from Labour wrangling – including posting an entire SnapChat story from the festival – again removes him from the scene of the crime.
Tom Watson's final Glastonbury snapchat…. He must be on a helluva come down this morning… pic.twitter.com/iO1UsSn7RP
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) June 26, 2016
Watson has form on coups as well – back in 2006 he was a leading figure in an attempt to oust Tony Blair.
He is also a skilled campaigner – and was in charge of Labour’s general election strategy until he was knocked from his perch in 2013 after being caught up in the Falkirk Selection Scandal (the catalyst which led to Corbyn’s ascendancy, and the shattered UK political landscape of today).
