Labour crisis deepens as dialogues called off
LONDON Talks with influential unions to resolve the issue of UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation were called off on Saturday after deputy leader Tom Watson said there was no realistic prospect of a compromise given the former’s insistence he would not quit.
Britain’s main opposition party is in turmoil, with its leader, associated with the hardleft, enjoying strong support from party members but losing the confidence of its parliamentary party.
After the 232-member Labour parliamentary party passed a no-confidence motion against Corbyn by 172 votes to 40, Watson initiated talks with unions to find a way out of the crisis. But after Watson’s statement, the party is now likely to hold another leadership contest by September.
Opposition to Corbyn within the party mounted after the June 23 EU referendum, when he was accused of not campaigning strongly enough for Britain to remain in the bloc. He has also been called ‘unelectable’ and unable to lead the party to power in a general election.
“It is with regret and profound sadness that I have concluded there is little to be achieved by pursuing wider conversations with our union affiliates at this time. The Labour Party was founded with the explicit aim of pursuing the parliamentary path to socialism,” Watson said.
“However, since the talks began Jeremy has publicly declared his intention to continue as leader come what may. This means there is no realistic prospect of reaching a compromise that satisfies the majority of colleagues in the PLP.”
In a defiant article in The Guardian, Corbyn wrote on Friday: “Those who want to challenge my leadership are free to do so in a democratic contest, in which I will be a candidate. But the responsibility of our whole party is to stand up in united opposition to the Tory government. If we come together, we can take them on and win.”
Labour leaders Angela Eagle and Owen Smith are expected to launch a leadership bid early next week, setting the stage for an election for the post.