On the brink... will these be next to go?
LABOUR
Siobhain McDonagh. Has warned she could leave if Jeremy Corbyn fails to address concerns over Brexit and anti-Semitism. Yesterday said she did not want to quit the party after 43 years, but said: ‘It’s up to Jeremy and how he responds.’
Owen Smith. The Labour leadership candidate has said he is ‘considering’ leaving over Brexit. He was sacked from the shadow cabinet after he called for a second referendum.
Stephen Doughty. Has been a key supporter of a People’s Vote alongside the breakaway MPs, but yesterday denied rumours he was on the brink of joining them.
Dame Louise Ellman. Is facing the threat of deselection from her local constituency party. But the Jewish MP has so far insisted: ‘I will continue to fight the virus of antiSemitism in the Labour party from within.’
Jess Phillips. Yesterday raised speculation she could go by saying: ‘I was born Labour and I felt like I’d die Labour but, when I listen to my colleagues, I find it very hard to disagree with a lot of what they were saying.’
Ian Murray. Has warned that the current leadership was ‘ breaking the broad church that this party once built its electoral success upon’, but yesterday said: ‘I’m not going.’
Ian Austin. Said he is ‘ thinking long and hard’ over whether to defect. Opposes a second referendum.
Peter Kyle. Staunch supporter of a second referendum has faced opposition from Corbyn supporters in his constituency. Tweeted: ‘Just to be clear, I’m not about to quit.’
TORIES
Guto Bebb. Quit as a defence minister blaming concessions to Brexiteers and has called for a second referendum. Did not respond when asked if he would defect.
Justine Greening. Former education secretary supports a second referendum but remained silent yesterday.
Dominic Grieve. Has put forward several amendments to thwart the PM’s deal. Yesterday, the former attorney general said he had no ‘current plans’ to quit the party.
Jo Johnson. Boris’s brother quit as a transport minister over Brexit and wants a second referendum. Asked about rumours he could jump ship, he said: ‘Don’t believe anything.’
Phillip Lee. Quit as a justice minister over Brexit. He said: ‘I’m not leaving the Conservapendent
tives but could understand if others did.’
Antoinette Sandbach. Said comments about a ‘purple Momentum’ were ‘hard to dispute’ but ruled out defecting.
Oliver Letwin. ex-minister has rebelled over Brexit. Asked if he was going to join the Independents, he replied: ‘Definitely not!’
Sam Gyimah. Quit as universities minister over Brexit. Retweeted the statement from the Tories that quit. When asked if he would join them, said: ‘No way. Retweeting their message doesn’t mean I’m going to follow suit.’
Nicholas Soames. Ardent Remainer, he was silent on whether he would follow his grandfather Winston Churchill in defecting.
Nick Boles. ex-minister tweeted: ‘I agree with so much of what my good friends say here but I am not ready to give up on Conservatives yet.’