Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey have battled for months to become the next Labour Party leader but have had to refrain from hustings during social distancing rules in the coronavirus pandemic. Labour has previously been criticised for its stance on Brexit after accepting the referendum result in 2016 and then campaigning for a People’s Vote. Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, has since explained Labour’s worst outcome in the contest would be uncertainty between leaders following difficulties with unity in the party.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Baxter said: “I think from the point of view of the Labour Party the worst outcome would be close.

“If it was very close between two candidates that would not resolve Labour’s difficulties with unity.

“If the outcome is quite clear for whoever it is then at least that’s a decision.

“I think the worst outcome would be uncertainty because the times are quite uncertain at the moment and they don’t need to be adding to that.”

His comments come as Jeremy Corbyn has told supporters that his leadership had “changed the agenda on austerity” but that Brexit had prevented Labour from winning power at the last election.

In a parting note to members, before he stands down as leader on Saturday, Mr Corbyn said it had been the “honour of my life to lead this party”.

The veteran politician announced he was quitting after leading the party to its worst showing since the 1930s during the December election.

The Islington North MP said he regretted not being able to lead Labour back to power but – in what will be read as a warning to his successor not to deviate from the left-wing path set during his leadership – added: “We have the ideas, policies, energy and organisation to win a Labour government next time.”

In his farewell Facebook post, Mr Corbyn said: “Over the past five years we have changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run.

“In 2015, opposing austerity was seen as radical – today it is the political mainstream.

“Of course, we could have achieved so much in government, and I am sorry that under my leadership we did not get there.

“In 2017 we came close, winning the biggest increase in the popular vote since 1945.

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“Sadly, the 2019 election was a Brexit election and our attempt to bridge the gap between Leave and Remain voters was unsuccessful.”

Mr Corbyn’s comments come after his wife, Laura Alvarez, accused the media of having “vilified” the outgoing Labour leader and said he was “attacked by his own party” during his four-and-a-half years in the top job.

In a rare public intervention, Ms Alvarez also said the NHS would have been better prepared for the coronavirus pandemic if Labour had united to win power at the 2017 and 2019 elections while her spouse was at the helm.

Mr Corbyn’s wife of seven years has largely steered clear of making public comments since the 70-year-old was elected Labour leader in 2015.

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