Jeremy Corbyn's closest ally Diane Abbott admits the clock is ticking on Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn's closest ally has set a 12-month deadline for him to show round Labour's fortunes after two disastrous by-elections.

Diane Abbott admitted the dreadful consequence within the Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency final week - the place the social gathering slumped into fourth place and noticed its vote share almost halved - had been deeply disappointing.

It got here on the heels of a contest in Richmond the place Labour humiliatingly misplaced its deposit and secured fewer votes than it has registered members within the space. 

Showing on the BBC immediately Diane Abbott successfully set a 12-month deadline for Mr Corbyn to enhance and appear to be a viable candidate to change into Prime Minister

Polls have persistently proven the social gathering is on monitor for a wipeout on the subsequent normal election, whereas Mr Corbyn himself has been much less standard than 'dcn't know' in lots of surveys.

Shadow residence secretary Diane Abbott - one of many veteran left-winger's staunchest supporters - conceded immediately that the state of affairs couldn't proceed for much longer.

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, one other long-term supporter, additionally set the identical timescale of a 12 months for issues to enhance. 

Though critics have largely stored quiet since Mr Corbyn simply fended off a problem from Owen Smith over the summer season, ranges of despair and anger amongst MPs haven't receded.

There was hypothesis that frontbencher Clive Lewis, beforehand an ally of Mr Corbyn and himself on the left of the social gathering, may problem for the highest job.

Talking on the BBC's Andrew Marr present immediately, Ms Abbott mentioned she believed the infighting had broken Labour however it was now getting its act collectively.

'I used to be at all times going to take time to drag spherical from that,' she mentioned.

However she successfully set a deadline for Mr Corbyn to enhance issues and appear to be a viable candidate to change into Prime Minister in 2020 - or earlier than if there's a snap normal election.

'I'm assured we're going to shut the hole within the coming 12 months,' she mentioned.

Pressed once more on whether or not that meant he needed to flip the social gathering's fortunes round, she replied: 'Inside the coming 12 months.' 

Showing on the Sunday Politics programme, Mr Livingstone mentioned: 'If in a 12 months's time it is nonetheless as unhealthy as this I feel we might all be nervous.'

Mr Corbyn was humiliatingly given a style of his personal medication yesterday when protesters interrupted a speehc on human rights to complain about his stance on Syria

Clive Lewis and Shadow Overseas Secretary Emily Thornberry on the Labour Convention in September this 12 months

Mr Corbyn was branded 'hapless' after a protest by veteran homosexual rights campaigner Peter Tatchell introduced a human rights speech by the Labour chief to a halt.

And whereas rising social gathering star Mr Lewis, 45, entered the Commons solely on the 2015 Common Election, the Shadow Enterprise Secretary is now being touted by supporters as a severe candidate for the management.

The farce unfolded as a bunch led by Tatchell held up banners calling on Mr Corbyn to do extra to cease the bombings in Aleppo. However after showing unsure the best way to react or of what his coverage on Syria was, the Labour chief might be heard asking Shadow Overseas Secretary Emily Thornberry, sitting close to him: 'When did we condemn the bombing?' 

Ms Abbott mentioned she believed intense infighting had broken Labour however it was now getting its act collectively

And Shadow Lawyer Common Shami Chakrabarti, ennobled by Mr Corbyn, tried to assist by advising him: 'Simply allow them to [the protesters] do that.'  

Because the banner-holding protesters stood in entrance of him, Mr Corbyn mentioned: 'It's all proper, it's OK.'  

Labour slumped to a brand new low final week after a brand new ballot revealed assist forJeremy Corbyn's social gathering has fallen to 25 per cent. 

It's the social gathering's worst displaying for the reason that deeply unpopular Gordon Brown was Prime Minister in September 2009. 

The Tories have stretched their result in 17 factors, whereas a lift in assist for the Lib Dems places Tim Farron's social gathering on 11 per cent, one level behind Ukip.  

The YouGov ballot additionally discovered thatTheresa Could is greater than 3 times as standard than Mr Corbyn.

Even the reply 'do not know' is scored greater than twice as a lot because the unpopular Labour chief. 

Labour slumped to a brand new low immediately after a brand new ballot revealed assist for Jeremy Corbyn's social gathering has fallen to 25 per cent

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