Corbyn hits back after seven MPs quit party over his leadership
SEVEN MPs have resigned from Labour and will create a new Independent Group in the House of Commons in the most significant split in British politics for a generation.
Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey fired a broadside at party leader Jeremy Corbyn as they quit, condemning his stance on Brexit and response to allegations of anti-semitism in the party.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson warned his party to change or face further damaging resignations.
Mr Corbyn (below) said he was “disappointed” by the announcement, while shadow chancellor John McDonnell challenged the seven to resign from Parliament and fight by-elections under their new independent banner.
There were angry scenes when party chairman Ian Lavery addressed the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party at Westminster yesterday evening, amid accusations the leadership had failed to get to grips with anti-semitism in its ranks.
Afterwards, backbencher Ian Austin, a long-standing critic of Mr Corbyn, warned the leadership’s response had only made the situation worse and could lead to further resignations.
“I don’t think he came close to demonstrating the leadership or understand the scale of the problem we have,” he said.
“I think it will result in people thinking long and hard about their position.”
Earlier the seven MPs issued an appeal to politicians from both Labour and other parties to “leave the old tribal politics behind” and join their new grouping in the Commons as crunch votes on Brexit loom later this month.
At the launch in London’s County Hall, Mr Umunna issued an appeal to voters: “For far too long, political parties in Westminster — parties of which we have been a part — have been failing you. If you are sick and tired of politics as usual, guess what? So are we.
“If you want an alternative, please help us build it. The bottom line is this — politics is broken, it doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s change it.”
In a call on other MPs to quit their parties, Mr Umunna said: “We’ve taken the first step in leaving the old tribal politics behind and we invite others who share our political values to do so too.”
Responding to the resignations, Mr Corbyn said: “I’m disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.”