UK Edition
Revealed: plot to oust Jeremy Corbyn by using veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge to spark leadership contest
A plot to oust Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader has emerged, with veteran MP Margaret Hodge said to have been persuaded to stand against him to spark a leadership contest.
The veteran MP could be used as a stalking horse before dropping out to allow moderate MPs to remain unscathed as they launch their leadership bids.
The plot, revealed by The Sun, could happen if a fifth of the Parliamentary Labour Party back her challenge.
The newspaper claims that "plotters" are close to signing up to 50 MPs to the cause.
One MP told the paper: "Margaret is our perfect candidate - she has a lot of gravitas but is also expendable.
"She is weighing it all up now but we think she sees it as her duty and will do it."
The MPs believe that at the age of 71, the former minister may not seek reselection and would not be bothered by any attempts to deselect her before the 2020 general election.
It is also thought her respect among the Jewish community could allow her to make a principled stand on Labour's ongoing anti-Semitism crisis.
Labour has secretly suspended 50 of its members over anti-Semitic and racist comments as officials struggle to cope with the crisis engulfing the party.
Senior sources reveal that Labour's compliance unit has been swamped by the influx of hard-left supporters following Mr Corbyn's election.
Matters could come to a head after Thursday's local elections if Mr Corbyn's party loses more than 150 seats.
It is thought any coup will not happen before the June 23 EU referendum so as not to damage the party's pro-EU efforts.
Mr Corbyn insisted over the weekend that he would "carry on" regardless of what happens.
His ally Diane Abbott, the Shadow International Development Secretary, added that Mr Corbyn would win if he was on a future leadership ballot, thanks to his overwhelming support among ordinary members.