Jeremy Corbyn has indicated he wants a job in the shadow cabinet after he steps down as Labour leader.
Speaking to broadcasters on Thursday afternoon in Wales, Corbyn said he would be “happy to serve the party in any capacity” if offered a role.
“My whole life has been about making my contribution in parliament,” he said.
Asked again if he would accept a job under his successor, Corbyn said: “See what it is. I didn’t know I was going to be offered anything.”
Rebecca Long-Bailey has said she would offer Corbyn a place in her shadow cabinet because “I love him so”.
According to Politics Home the shadow business secretary, a close ally of the outgoing Labour leader, told party members earlier this month it was “up to him” if he wanted a spot on the frontbench.
“I’d like to but I don’t know whether he wants to do it because he said not,” she said.
Richard Burgon, who is running to be Labour deputy leader, told HuffPost UK last week that Corbyn still had a “valuable role” to play.
“If he was shadow foreign secretary, that would be ideal,” the shadow justice secretary said.
Corbyn’s comments are in contrast to John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, who has said he will return to the backbenchers once a new leader is elected.
This morning leadership contender Lisa Nandy confirmed she would serve in a shadow cabinet led by Long-Bailey or the current frontrunner Keir Starmer.
Nandy has signalled that there would be no bad blood should one of her competitors beat her to the top spot on April 4, with voting due to begin on Friday February 21.
Asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain whether she would serve in the shadow cabinet should she fail in her bid to become leader, she said: “Yeah, of course.
“What you don’t actually realise is we are quite good mates behind the scenes, there’s a camaraderie that comes from being put through this process,” she saidf.
“We’re the only people who understand how tough it is and, yes, I’d be proud to serve in their shadow cabinets.”
Stamer has refused to commit to having leadership opponents in his shadow cabinet if he wins the contest.
Speaking at a leadership hustings in Glasgow last week, he “saluted” Long-Bailey and Nandy but would not say if either of them would be in his team.