Corbyn ‘will not betray’ members by resigning

Left Foot Forward

172 MPs have voted no confidence in the Labour party leader

 

Labour Party MPs have voted no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn by a margin of 172 to 40.

The secret ballot was held between nine and four today, on the motion ‘that this PLP has no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party.’

It’s rumoured that Angela Eagle and Tom Watson will meet imminently to discuss which of them is best-placed to challenge the Corbyn for the leadership.

With such limited support Corbyn could struggle to get the 51 nominations required to stand.

He would rely on the support of some of the 20 Labour MEPs, which could also be problematic given the criticism of his behaviour during the EU referendum campaign.

However, his team believe that according to party rules he is automatically entitled to appear on the ballot.

Corbyn has already made it clear that he will not stand down, commenting:

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

“We are a democratic party, with a clear constitution. Our people need Labour party members, trade unionists and MPs to unite behind my leadership at a critical time for our country.”

The results have already triggered another resignation — of shadow home office minister Lyn Brown — bringing the total to 52.

 

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14 Responses to “Corbyn ‘will not betray’ members by resigning”

  1. Steve

    I keep hearing Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters talking about his overwhelming mandate. Yet that is no longer the issue. Nine months later the issue is how well has he done the job, and the answer, unfortunately, is not very well at all. I watch him at PMQs & what we get is a prolix, meandering question, no response to what Cameron has just said & then another prolix, meandering question. PMQs after PMQs he fails to make any impact at all. I watch him doing interviews on TV. He’s no better in that enviroment, seemingly lacking political nous & unable to think on his feet. This is how the public will see him – in clips on the TV not in meeting halls, where most people don’t go. I have been a Labour member and activist for almost 40 years and I feel he should now go. It’s a shame, but he’s just not up to the demands of the job he now has.

  2. Paul Browning

    I’m a former Labour voter who gave up on the party in the wake of the Iraq war. I thought Labour were finished so far as being any kind of alternative to the Tories was concerned. Corbyn has changed that for me and, I suspect, many other ex-voters.

    So the New Labour faction need to bear this in mind – if Corbyn goes, so does my vote.

  3. Susan Thomas

    They have become so arrogant that they think they can ignore what the majority of members voted for change and believe in Jeremy Corbyn. I just joined the Labour Party to support him in another contest. If he loses I will never vote Labour again. I have already supported the TUSC in the Welsh Assembly elections and this party was not given any press at all.

  4. Sam

    There is no coming back from this. As a Labour voter I am terrified that it will be difficult for Jeremy to move anyone other than the base which is not enough. I fear any new conservative government will call an election and can you imagine Boris with a super majority?

  5. Tony

    How many of those Labour MPs who have said that Corbyn is ‘unelectable’ predicted the result of the last general election?
    I doubt if any of them did. So how can they predict the result of the next one?
    40 MPs back Corbyn—I think his support has actually gone up since he was elected leader.
    I see that Kezia Dugdale has suggested that Corbyn stand down.

    I can hardly wait for Neil Kinnock to offer his advice.

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