Jeremy Corbyn expected to reveal some Labour reshuffle details
Jeremy Corbyn 'will not sack Hilary Benn in reshuffle'
(about 4 hours later)
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to unveil the first details of a reshuffle of his front bench team, after late-night meetings with key members ended without any announcement.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has "backed down" over plans to sack Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn, the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg has been told.
He held lengthy talks with shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle.
A senior Labour source said Mr Benn would keep his job in a reshuffle to be announced later.
It comes amid speculation he was thinking of moving colleagues who disagreed with him in important areas.
Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle has been told that she will be moved, but won't be demoted, the source added.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg says it seems likely Mr Benn will keep his job.
There had been speculation Mr Corbyn would sack senior figures who disagreed with him on defence and security.
Ms Kuenssberg, the BBC's political editor, said she expected the new shadow cabinet line-up to be revealed at some point on Tuesday - although it could be incomplete and less dramatic than anticipated.
The Labour leader held lengthy talks with Mr Benn and Ms Eagle on Monday night, but both declined to comment on what had been said.
No final decisions were understood to have been taken on Monday night, she added.
Mr Benn grabbed headlines with a Commons speech in favour of RAF air strikes in Syria - directly opposing Mr Corbyn's view - and Ms Eagle supports the renewal of the UK's Trident nuclear weapons.
Emerging after an hour-long meeting with Mr Corbyn, Mr Benn said he would not be making any comment about his future, while Ms Eagle also declined to speak to the media after meeting the Labour leader.
A further nine shadow cabinet members voted for air strikes after Mr Corbyn was forced to allow a free vote.
The current shadow cabinet is divided on issues including Trident renewal and military intervention in Syria.
There was talk of a "revenge" reshuffle, with key jobs handed to Mr Corbyn's supporters from the left of the party to allow Labour to speak with a more unified voice.
Mr Benn backed air strikes in last month's Commons vote, after Mr Corbyn opposed them. Ms Eagle backs the UK's nuclear weapons capability in contrast to her leader.
But the scope of any changes appears to have been scaled back, amid speculation of a revolt among Labour MPs if senior "moderates" were sacked.
'Petty and divisive'
Analysis by BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who is co-chairing the party's defence review, said it "might very well be the case" that Mr Benn could be moved to a portfolio where he agrees with Mr Corbyn - although he said he had no knowledge of the leader's intentions.
He said it was a problem if, as happened in the Syria debate, Labour's frontbench spokesman stood up and made a speech opposing the stance of the party leader.
Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg
Don't forget, Jeremy Corbyn built his own career by being a serial rebel, voting against his party leader again and again and again.
Don't forget, Jeremy Corbyn built his own career by being a serial rebel, voting against his party leader again and again and again.
For him to call for discipline from the outset might have seemed ludicrous. And given the lack of support he had among Labour MPs, he was determined to try to build a team from all parts of the party to give him credibility in Westminster.
For him to call for discipline from the outset might have seemed ludicrous. And given the lack of support he had among Labour MPs, he was determined to try to build a team from all parts of the party to give him credibility in Westminster.
So now, just four months on, if he embarks on dramatic changes, sacks those who have publicly disagreed with him, like the shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, there's a danger it looks like when his own authority is challenged he just can't take it.
So now, just four months on, if he embarks on dramatic changes, sacks those who have publicly disagreed with him, like the shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, there's a danger it looks like when his own authority is challenged he just can't take it.
Read more from Laura
Read more from Laura
Shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour Mr Corbyn's "whole career" was based on disagreeing with party leaders, and warned him against carrying out a reshuffle "as a punishment for shadow minister who disagree with him".
"He has talked of an open, pluralist kind of politics but a reshuffle for that reason could end looking more petty and divisive than open and pluralist politics," he added.
But speaking on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, Labour MP and Corbyn ally Clive Lewis said reshuffles were a "perk" of being leader.
He added: "It's his prerogative as leader to be able to manage and shape the shadow cabinet - it's one of the benefits and perks of being a leader to be able to shape the shadow cabinet without it being seen as revenge."
'Piffle'
Mr Lewis said it was "speculation" to say he could replace Maria Eagle as shadow defence secretary.
He said he would only do the job if Mr Corbyn said it was "essential" he take it - but said he thought this unlikely.
Another of Mr Corbyn's allies at Westminster, shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott, told BBC Radio London's Vanessa Feltz that rumours she could replace Mr Benn as shadow foreign secretary were "poppycock and piffle".
Ms Abbott said she did not know whether there would be a reshuffle, but added that if Mr Corbyn were to change his top team it would continue to be inclusive and "would reflect his considered thoughts about the importance of having a team at the top which reflects the views of the party".
Another shadow minister, housing spokesman John Healey, said it was important to have a range of views at the top of the party, adding: "I would be very surprised if we see the sort of scale of reshuffle that some have speculated on so far."
