Top Labour figure quits after Corbyn leader rows

Labour’s general secretary, Iain Mcnicol, has resigned as Jeremy Corbyn continues to tighten his grip on the party.

Mr Mcnicol has held the role since 2011, but said in a statement issued last night he was stepping down to “pursue new challenges”.

The general secretary had repeatedly clashed with Mr Corbyn’s office in private.

He was accused around the 2016 leadership election of trying to prevent Mr Corbyn from getting on the ballot paper.

Labour left-wingers have long hoped to replace him with someone more favourable to their agenda.

Mr Corbyn said: “I would like to personally thank Iain Mcnicol for his long and dedicated service to the Labour Party as general secretary.

“He has run our party’s organisation at a time of great change, including a near tripling of the membership, two general elections and the EU referendum.

“Iain has served the Labour Party and trade union movement in a wide range of roles throughout his career and is a credit to our movement. I am confident Iain will continue to play a major role in politics and our party, and will support our team inside and outside Parliament with his experience and skills.”