Tom Watson: Labour deputy leader not consulted about plan to sack shadow Culture Minister Michael Dugher

Mr Watson was on holiday in Lanzarote when Mr Corbyn’s reshuffle started

Labour’s deputy leader only found out on 3 January that Mr Corbyn was planning to change his top team at all (Getty Images)

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson was not consulted about a decision to sack one of his key political allies in Jeremy Corbyn’s first shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Watson was on holiday in Lanzarote when Mr Corbyn’s reshuffle started and was only told about the plan to sack Michael Dugher, the shadow Culture Minister, the night before he was dismissed.

Labour’s deputy leader only found out on 3 January that Mr Corbyn was planning to change his top team at all.

While Mr Corbyn was under no obligation to talk to Mr Watson about his plans some in the party have expressed surprise that he was not consulted in advance about the changes.

However others pointed out that previous leaders have seen reshuffles as their exclusive prerogative.

Party sources said that while Mr Corbyn’s reshuffle had been portrayed as botched in the media he had in fact succeeded in strengthening his position.