Hell no, I won’t go, insists Corbyn

LEGISLATORS from Britain’s opposition Labour Party backed a motion of no confidence in their leader Jeremy Corbyn by an overwhelming margin on Tuesday, but Corbyn said he would not resign.

They had voted 172 to 40 for the motion, sources said.

The motion was tabled in the wake of Britain’s vote to leave the EU and backed by many who felt Corbyn had not campaigned hard enough to keep the country inside the EU, and would not be able to win a future election.

The result, which was widely expected after days of heavy criticism from within his party, has no formal consequence and does not automatically trigger a leadership election. Corbyn subsequently said he would not resign, in a statement issued shortly after the vote.

“I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning. Today’s vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy.”

Corbyn has previously said that he would stand again if the party did call a leadership contest, which would have to take place if 51 or more Labour legislators pledge their support for an alternative candidate.

Meanwhile, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb was expected to announce a run for leadership of the governing Conservative Party on a joint ticket with Business Secretary Sajid Javid, a person familiar with the campaign said on Tuesday.

Nominations for the race to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron, who resigned after losing his bid to keep Britain in the EU, open on Wednesday and close at noon on Thursday.

Crabb, who campaigned to stay in the EU during the referendum campaign, was promoted to his job after the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith in the run-up to the Brexit vote.