Corbyn fails to sack front-bench rebels as public support plunges
JEREMY CORBYN’S authority was further undermined last night after he failed to sack rebels on his front bench who this week voted against invoking Article 50.
The Labour leader decided that the 14 members of the shadow ministerial team who disobeyed his orders to back the Bill triggering Brexit could continue in their roles.
Parliamentary rules say any shadow minister who does not obey a three-line whip must leave the front bench or face the sack.
But a Labour source told The Daily Telegraph that shadow ministers would only receive a letter warning them to adhere to the threeline whip in the future.
Meanwhile, a poll found Mr Corbyn is now viewed unfavourably by every age group and social class and even Labour voters.
A survey by YouGov found Mr Corbyn’s net favourability rating has fallen from minus 25 in August 2016, to minus 40 today.
While Mr Corbyn has previously relied on a swell of enthusiasm from new Labour members and young voters, the polling indicates that even his core groups are beginning to have doubts about him.
The poll found 46 per cent of people who voted Labour in 2015 now have a view of Mr Corbyn that is “unfavourable”, with 44 per cent posi- tive about the party leader. He also has net unfavourable ratings among all ages from 18 to the over-65s and every social class in the country.
Yesterday Mr Corbyn continued his latest reshuffle after a series of resignations when he demanded that his MPs back Theresa May’s efforts to invoke Article 50 and begin Brexit negotiations.
Jon Trickett, was sacked as election co-ordinator and appointed shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, after a series of dire polls showed that the Tories have taken a record lead over Labour.
In his place Ian Lavery and Andrew Gwynne were appointed joint national elections coordinators.
Clive Lewis, who quit the shadow cabinet before the Brexit vote, has reportedly begun sounding out MPs for support amid increasing speculation that he will try to topple Mr Corbyn.