PUBLIC Labour leadership election debates without left-wing challenger Jeremy Corbyn risk demoralising many grassroots members, one of the party’s new MPs said yesterday.

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis delivered the warning after witnessing a closed debate for Labour MPs in Parliament.

He told the Star that Mr Corbyn’s rivals refused to challenge cuts and said: “A lot of members are going to be seriously annoyed if this is the debate we’re going to have.” 

But the Islington North MP’s campaign was boosted when former shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry, who is MP in a neighbouring constituency, said she was prepared to get him on the ballot paper. Ms Thornberry said Mr Corbyn had been “really good, really relaxed” during the hustings. The event, held in Parliament’s Clement Attlee room, gave the left candidate a chance to speak directly to dozens of undecided MPs before the nominations period officially opened this morning.

Leadership candidates need the support of 35 MPs by next Wednesday in order to progress to the membership ballot and participate in nationwide public debates.

Ms Thornberry is supporting shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who has already secured enough nominations. Asked by the Star if she would help Mr Corbyn get over the line, she said: “I do want Jeremy to be on the ballot paper. “If it’s needed to have some help on that and Yvette’s happy then I will look at it.”

Mr Corbyn currently has the clear support of 13 MPs, including Mr Lewis, who said that the hustings highlighted the need for the left candidate to be in the debate. Speaking after the hour-long debate, Mr Lewis said that too many of the candidates were willing to accept the “neoliberal agenda” of the government.

“I know lots of members who are demoralised that this is where we are,” he added. “I think members do want to hear an anti-austerity alternative and have a debate about a social democratic future. If we want to have that debate and we want to hear that then my colleagues need to understand it won’t happen to the same degree without Jeremy.” 

Members supporting Mr Corbyn’s campaign have sent more than 600 letters to other Labour MPs urging them to nominate him and secure a broad debate. Mr Corbyn will go head-to-head with his four rivals during a debate at the GMB union congress in Dublin today.