Major turmoil hits Labour, Jeremy Corbyn faces revolt

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn faced a revolt on Sunday over his handling of Britain’s EU referendum as eight members of his top team resigned and others seemed set to follow.

Mr Corbyn’s allies said he had no intention of resigning, but his future looked shaky amid accusations that he is ill-equipped to deal with the fallout from Britain’s seismic decision to quit the bloc.

“He’s a good and decent man but he is not a leader, and that’s the problem,” Labour MP Hilary Benn told BBC television after being sacked as foreign affairs spokesman late Saturday for challenging Mr Corbyn’s leadership.

His departure triggered a wave of resignations on Sunday, including health spokeswoman Heidi Alexander, education spokeswoman Lucy Powell, Scottish spokesman Ian Murray and transport spokeswoman Lilian Greenwood.

“As much as I respect you as a man of principle, I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding,” Ms Alexander wrote in her resignation letter to Mr Corbyn, which she published on Twitter.

She later told ITV television: “I think that there are a fair number of people who do feel similarly to me.”

One third of Labour voters chose to leave the European Union in Thursday’s historic vote, against the advice of the majority of their party’s MPs and the leadership.

Critics say Mr Corbyn — who for decades had expressed eurosceptic views — could have done more to sway voters.

Two Labour MPs tabled a vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn on Friday, which is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour party (PLP) on Monday.

But the veteran socialist has indicated he is going nowhere, as did his allies.

Labour finance spokes-man John McDonnell told BBC television: “He was elected nine months ago, the biggest mandate of any political leader in our country, and he is not going anywhere.”

“It’s a stupid question. He’s not going to stand down,” the party’s defence spokeswoman Emily Thornberry told Sky News television.

Mr Corbyn supporter Diane Abbott, the party’s international development spokeswoman, accused the rebels of plotting their move “for months”.

Many Labour MPs have been critical of Corbyn since his unexpected election last September in a vote by party members.