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Jeremy Corbyn faces no-confidence motion after Britain votes to leave EU Jeremy Corbyn faces no-confidence motion after Britain votes to leave EU
(about 1 hour later)
Labour MPs hostile to Jeremy Corbyn are hoping to destabilise his leadership in the wake of an EU referendum result that has shocked the party, starting with a motion of no confidence submitted by two senior politicians. Jeremy Corbyn is facing a serious challenge after two senior Labour politicians submitted a motion of no confidence in his leadership, which could be voted on by MPs as early as Monday.
Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey have written to the chair of the parliamentary Labour party, John Cryer, asking for “urgent consideration” of their leader’s position, which will be put to a vote of MPs at a meeting this week. Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey have written to the chair of the parliamentary Labour party, John Cryer, asking for “urgent consideration” of their leader’s position after MPs were left stunned by the country’s vote to leave the EU in defiance of the party’s official position.
MPs across the party said they were ready to back the move that would first trigger a show of hands at a PLP meeting this Monday, or next, then a secret ballot. MPs from across the political spectrum said they were ready to back the move that would first trigger a show of hands at a PLP meeting this Monday, or next, before a secret ballot. Other coup plans are also thought to be in train, as devastated MPs accuse their leader of running a lacklustre campaign.
But a Labour spokesman hit back, describing the move as “self-indulgent” in the face of Britain making a “momentous decision”.But a Labour spokesman hit back, describing the move as “self-indulgent” in the face of Britain making a “momentous decision”.
“The Labour party needs to unite and carry out the wishes of the people, holding the government to account as they negotiate an exit from the EU, to ensure that its not working people who bear the brunt,” he said. And leaders of Britain’s biggest trade unions also moved to quell a leadership challenge with a letter that said there was a Tory leadership crisis, and this was time for “politicians to come together for the common good”. The group, including Len McCluskey, Dave Prentis and Tim Roache, wrote that Labour needed to offer unity and focus on jobs and workers’ rights.
Related: EU referendum live: Boris Johnson says no rush for Brexit as Cameron quitsRelated: EU referendum live: Boris Johnson says no rush for Brexit as Cameron quits
Corbyn faced his top team during a “sombre and serious” shadow cabinet meeting that started at 10am and lasted for almost three hours. A number of frontbenchers questioned whether Labour had done enough in its heartlands to bring out its traditional vote. Some voiced their frustration at their leader’s decision not to enter the fray earlier. On Friday, Corbyn faced his top team during a “sombre and serious” shadow cabinet meeting that started at 10am and lasted for almost three hours. A number of frontbenchers questioned whether Labour had done enough in its heartlands to bring out its traditional vote. Some voiced their frustration at their leader’s decision not to enter the fray earlier. The leader did not respond to repeated requests to put forward new proposals on immigration, although he will make a speech on Saturday to address the issue.
Some of the MPs were furious about a script sent out by the leadership team at 6am suggesting they tell the media that Labour was closer to the “centre of gravity of the British public” than others because Corbyn was a “critical remainer”. Some MPs are determined to oust the leader, with one saying it would be damaging to go into a general election under his leadership. But there is a big divide in the party, with some potential leadership hopefuls warning that it would be better to let Corbyn lose an election before he is challenged. They fear that any coup attempt would fail.
The leader did not respond to repeated requests to put forward new proposals on immigration. Many privately support Hodge’s effort to challenge Corbyn’s position, pointing out that she has “very little to lose” as she is nearing the end of her career. Meanwhile, the leader’s allies said he was relaxed and confident. They insist his sceptical tone throughout the referendum, and refusal to share a platform with the prime minister, more closely reflected the public’s feelings than the “rah-rah Europe” approach of some of his colleagues.
But there is a big divide in the party, with some potential leadership hopefuls warning that it would be better to let Corbyn lose an election, before he is challenged. Many of the party’s MPs think he would have no chance of victory against a rejuvenated Eurosceptic Conservative party.
If there is an obvious majority in favour of the no-confidence motion at the PLP meeting, some MPs will try to encourage Corbyn to go bloodlessly.
The leader’s allies insist that his sceptical tone throughout the referendum, and refusal to share a platform with the prime minister, more closely reflected the public’s feelings than the “rah-rah Europe” approach of some of his colleagues.
But others blame what they regard as his lukewarm endorsement for Britain remaining in the EU for the public’s decision to back Brexit.
Angela Smith, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, broke ranks to tell Sky News that Corbyn had shown “insufficient leadership” and should stand down.
Peter Mandelson, the former Labour minister and EU commissioner, said the referendum campaign showed Corbyn “can’t cut it” as leader – and warned that a snap election could expose the shortcomings in the leadership team.
Lord Mandelson told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I think it is more likely than not that the incoming prime minister will want to get his or her own mandate. It is what Gordon Brown didn’t do when he succeeded Tony Blair and I think there is a lesson there to be learned.
“And I would not be at all surprised if they went for a general election, and of course that raises a massive question for the Labour party and whether we are ready to fight an election as well.”
There are concerns that the party’s core supporters do not trust Corbyn to deal with worries over uncontrolled immigration, given his desire to paint a rosier picture of the impact of freedom of movement.
Related: The Guardian view on the EU referendum: the vote is in, now we must face the consequences | EditorialRelated: The Guardian view on the EU referendum: the vote is in, now we must face the consequences | Editorial
Voters in areas that have traditionally voted Labour, including those in Sunderland, South Tyneside and Swansea, swung heavily behind Brexit. But the party is reeling from the fact that voters in areas that have traditionally voted Labour, including those in Sunderland, South Tyneside and Swansea, swung heavily behind Brexit.
Corbyn, a long-time Eurosceptic, defended his conduct in the campaign amid criticisms that he offered no more than lukewarm support for remain, blaming government austerity cuts for alienating voters.Corbyn, a long-time Eurosceptic, defended his conduct in the campaign amid criticisms that he offered no more than lukewarm support for remain, blaming government austerity cuts for alienating voters.
“A lot of the message that has come back from this is that many communities are fed up with cuts, they are fed up with economic dislocation and feel very angry at the way they have been betrayed and marginalised by successive governments in very poor areas of the country,” he said. “A lot of the message that has come back from this is that many communities are fed up with cuts, they are fed up with economic dislocation and feel very angry at the way they have been betrayed and marginalised by successive governments in very poor areas of the country,” he said. “The point I was making was there were good things that had come from Europe in working conditions and environmental protections but there were other issues that had not been addressed properly.”
“The point I was making was there were good things that had come from Europe in working conditions and environmental protections but there were other issues that had not been addressed properly.” Some remain-supporting sources within the party accused the leader’s closest team, including aides Andrew Fisher, Seumas Milne and James Meadway, of trying to sabotage the party’s EU efforts. In a series of documents handed to the Guardian, including copies of Corbyn’s agenda throughout the campaign period, they illustrate that he had limited EU events, and claim he dropped pro-EU sections from speeches.
John Mann, the MP for Bassetlaw who came out to back leave in the final weeks of the campaign, said the party was paying the price for ignoring the concerns of working-class people on issues such as immigration. One said an early request for a meeting between the leader and chair of Labour In For Britain, Alan Johnson, took months to set up, while another said Fisher wrote an early speech that was more negative than positive about the EU.
“Labour has gone wrong by not being in touch with its voters, I’ve been saying this for the last 10 years in relation to immigration and free movement of labour,” he said. A further source on the Labour campaign argued that shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, vetoed planned interventions by the shadow chief secretary, Seema Malhotra, warning about the impact on sterling, although others said that was because they simply wanted to avoid “project fear”.
Mann, one of Corbyn’s fiercest critics in the party, acknowledged he would carry on as leader but said he had to “get out there talking to these voters, which he hasn’t been doing”. And an insider in the leader’s office said Meadway once said openly that he thought McDonnell should be campaigning for Brexit and encouraged him to avoid Labour In For Britain events. Milne was accused of removing pro-EU lines from a speech at the offices of energy company Ecotricity in the south-west, and of failing to provide pro-EU quotes for journalists.
One senior Labour source said the mood within the party was one of “utter devastation, despair, horror” but said it would be a mistake to change leader. John Mann, the MP for Bassetlaw who came out to back leave in the final weeks of the campaign, said the party was paying the price for ignoring the concerns of working-class people on issues such as immigration. “Labour has gone wrong by not being in touch with its voters, I’ve been saying this for the last 10 years in relation to immigration and free movement of labour,” he said.
The source added: “The simple fact remains that if you hijack a national tragedy to try to get rid of a leader you don’t like, it looks self-serving.” Hodge told the Guardian she thought union leaders had shown themselves to be out of touch with the views of their own members. “This has been a tumultuous referendum which has been a test of leadership,” she said. “Jeremy has failed that test. There will be a series of incredibly important decisions and negotiations with the EU over the next few year. Are we really saying that we send Jeremy Corbyn on our behalf? Does he have the necessary qualities? There is probably going to be a general election within a year. Do we want Jeremy Corbyn to lead us in to that election?”A source close to the leader said: “Jeremy Corbyn and his team worked hard for the Labour in campaign. Jeremy made numerous appearance, countless speeches and a host of statements and ended up being the politician closest to the tone of the nation. The motivation of individuals making the allegations is questionable.”
Former minister Chris Bryant turned on former leader Ed Miliband, whose overhaul of the party’s rulebook was widely seen to have paved the way for Corbyn’s election as leader.
“I might go and punch him because he’s a tosspot and he left the party in the state it’s in,” he said.
Tony Blair, Labour’s last prime minister, declined an invitation to criticise Corbyn on Sky News, instead saying “there are much bigger questions” for the party if it is to survive and take on Ukip.
“Labour has to get its act together. The Labour party is going to have to find its passion to solve the problems that people face,” he said.