Real danger Labour faces the end, Alastair Campbell warns

Labour could be permanently locked out of power if Jeremy Corbyn remains party leader, Alastair Campbell has said.

The former Number 10 spin doctor told BBC staff in Cardiff Mr Corbyn was certain to beat Owen Smith's leadership challenge but was "never, ever going to be elected prime minister".

Referring to Scotland, he said: "When people see there's an alternative they go there."

Mr Campbell said there was a "real danger" that it was the end for Labour.

He claimed former Labour leader Lord Kinnock was right to fear he would not see another Labour UK government in his lifetime.

"I think there's a possibility this [2005] could be our last ever win," said Mr Campbell, who was communications director for then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"If we are out of power for another 10 years we are talking about a generation.

"What we have seen in Scotland is when people see there's an alternative they go there," he said, referring to the SNP.

The Conservatives or a resurgent Liberal Democrat party could squeeze Labour out of the centre ground, Mr Campbell added.

Asked if this could be the end for Labour, Mr Campbell said: "I think it could be. I really, really hope it's not, but I think there's a real danger."

He said of Mr Corbyn that "I'm not even convinced he wants to win [a general election]".

Mr Corbyn has called for unity and promised to "wipe the slate clean" for Labour MPs who have opposed him if he is returned as leader when the result is announced at the party conference in Liverpool on Saturday.

Although he said he did not expect Labour to split, Mr Campbell said some on the left wanted that to happen.

He claimed some of Mr Corbyn's supporters were more interested in winning control of the party than in forming a government.

"I don't think the battle about the future of the Labour Party ends on Saturday, by any manner or means," he said.