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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/26/brexit-live-jeremy-corbyn-sacks-hilary-benn-tory-leadership
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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
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| Brexit triggers Corbyn coup: Watson 'saddened' by Labour departures – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.07pm BST | |
| 18:07 | |
| The New Statesman has reported that, in the event of a challenge for the Labour leadership, the party’s general secretary Iain McNicol will not put Jeremy Corbyn on the ballot paper “unless the parliamentary Labour party does so”. | |
| The Guardian understands, however, that legal advice commissioned for McNicol and the party’s national executive committee contradicts that, saying there is no question that Corbyn would be on the ballot paper. | |
| 5.47pm BST | 5.47pm BST |
| 17:47 | 17:47 |
| Tom Watson declines to back Corbyn's leadership | Tom Watson declines to back Corbyn's leadership |
| Andrew Sparrow | Andrew Sparrow |
| Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, has issued a statement on today’s development. Here it is in full. | Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, has issued a statement on today’s development. Here it is in full. |
| I was deeply disappointed to see Hilary Benn sacked in the early hours of this morning and equally saddened that so many talented, able and hard-working colleagues felt they had to leave the shadow cabinet. My single focus is to hold the Labour party together in very turbulent times. The nation needs an effective opposition, particularly as the current leadership of the country is so lamentable. It’s very clear to me that we are heading for an early general election and the Labour party must be ready to form a government. There’s much work to do. I will be meeting Jeremy Corbyn tomorrow morning to discuss the way forward. | I was deeply disappointed to see Hilary Benn sacked in the early hours of this morning and equally saddened that so many talented, able and hard-working colleagues felt they had to leave the shadow cabinet. My single focus is to hold the Labour party together in very turbulent times. The nation needs an effective opposition, particularly as the current leadership of the country is so lamentable. It’s very clear to me that we are heading for an early general election and the Labour party must be ready to form a government. There’s much work to do. I will be meeting Jeremy Corbyn tomorrow morning to discuss the way forward. |
| Here are the key points. | Here are the key points. |
| Analysis: Tom Watson is positioning himself to replace Jeremy Corbyn this week as a caretaker Labour leader - perhaps with a view to grabbing the job permanently. At least, that’s what his statement implies. Talking about “effective opposition” is Labour code for “we need a new leader”, because it implies Labour is not providing effective opposition now. It is very noticeable that Watson does not defend Corbyn’s leadership, or urge colleagues to support him. And the reference to an early election is key too. On Friday the prospect of an early election was little more than speculation. Today almost all the Labour and Tory politicians on the political programmes have been treating it is a near-certainty, which is significant because forecasts of this kind can become self-fulfilling. | Analysis: Tom Watson is positioning himself to replace Jeremy Corbyn this week as a caretaker Labour leader - perhaps with a view to grabbing the job permanently. At least, that’s what his statement implies. Talking about “effective opposition” is Labour code for “we need a new leader”, because it implies Labour is not providing effective opposition now. It is very noticeable that Watson does not defend Corbyn’s leadership, or urge colleagues to support him. And the reference to an early election is key too. On Friday the prospect of an early election was little more than speculation. Today almost all the Labour and Tory politicians on the political programmes have been treating it is a near-certainty, which is significant because forecasts of this kind can become self-fulfilling. |
| The Conservative party has its famous “men in grey suits” who are supposed to tell the leader when his time is up. Watson wears flash pin-striped suits, but his line about “meeting Corbyn tomorrow morning to discuss the way forward” suggests he is about to play the same role. He did not quite say he would have a bottle of whisky and a pearl-handled revolver for Corbyn in his briefcase, but that’s clearly the implication ... | The Conservative party has its famous “men in grey suits” who are supposed to tell the leader when his time is up. Watson wears flash pin-striped suits, but his line about “meeting Corbyn tomorrow morning to discuss the way forward” suggests he is about to play the same role. He did not quite say he would have a bottle of whisky and a pearl-handled revolver for Corbyn in his briefcase, but that’s clearly the implication ... |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.54pm BST | at 5.54pm BST |
| 5.46pm BST | 5.46pm BST |
| 17:46 | 17:46 |
| Lord Falconer resigns from shadow cabinet | Lord Falconer resigns from shadow cabinet |
| Lord Falconer, the shadow justice secretary, has resigned. | Lord Falconer, the shadow justice secretary, has resigned. |
| BREAKING Lord Falconer has gone. Ten down now. #CorbynCoup | BREAKING Lord Falconer has gone. Ten down now. #CorbynCoup |
| 5.28pm BST | 5.28pm BST |
| 17:28 | 17:28 |
| This, from the Labour MP Stella Creasy, seems aimed at Jeremy Corbyn. | This, from the Labour MP Stella Creasy, seems aimed at Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Most of us in labour worked our socks off for #Remain vote - to see just how others in positions of influence half hearted about it gutting! | Most of us in labour worked our socks off for #Remain vote - to see just how others in positions of influence half hearted about it gutting! |
| On her blog the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg says she has seen evidence that backs up claims that Jeremy Corbyn’s office tried to water down the Labour remain campaign. Here’s an excerpt. | On her blog the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg says she has seen evidence that backs up claims that Jeremy Corbyn’s office tried to water down the Labour remain campaign. Here’s an excerpt. |
| One email from the leader’s office suggests that Mr Corbyn’s director of strategy and communications, Seumas Milne, was behind Mr Corbyn’s reluctance to take a prominent role in Labour’s campaign to keep the UK in the EU. One email, discussing one of the leader’s speeches, said it was because of the “hand of Seumas. If he can’t kill it, he will water it down so much to hope nobody notices it”. | One email from the leader’s office suggests that Mr Corbyn’s director of strategy and communications, Seumas Milne, was behind Mr Corbyn’s reluctance to take a prominent role in Labour’s campaign to keep the UK in the EU. One email, discussing one of the leader’s speeches, said it was because of the “hand of Seumas. If he can’t kill it, he will water it down so much to hope nobody notices it”. |
| A series of messages dating back to December seen by the BBC shows correspondence between the party leader’s office, the Labour Remain campaign and Labour HQ, discussing the European campaign. It shows how a sentence talking about immigration was removed on one occasion and how Mr Milne refused to sign off a letter signed by 200 MPs after it had already been approved. | A series of messages dating back to December seen by the BBC shows correspondence between the party leader’s office, the Labour Remain campaign and Labour HQ, discussing the European campaign. It shows how a sentence talking about immigration was removed on one occasion and how Mr Milne refused to sign off a letter signed by 200 MPs after it had already been approved. |
| The documents show concern in Labour HQ and the Labour Remain campaign about Mr Corbyn’s commitment to the campaign - one email says: “What is going on here?” Another email from Labour Remain sources to the leader’s office complains “there is no EU content here - we agreed to have Europe content in it”. Sources say they show the leader’s office was reluctant to give full support to the EU campaign and how difficult it was to get Mr Corbyn to take a prominent role. | The documents show concern in Labour HQ and the Labour Remain campaign about Mr Corbyn’s commitment to the campaign - one email says: “What is going on here?” Another email from Labour Remain sources to the leader’s office complains “there is no EU content here - we agreed to have Europe content in it”. Sources say they show the leader’s office was reluctant to give full support to the EU campaign and how difficult it was to get Mr Corbyn to take a prominent role. |
| 5.15pm BST | 5.15pm BST |
| 17:15 | 17:15 |
| This is from BuzzFeed’s Jim Waterson. | This is from BuzzFeed’s Jim Waterson. |
| Jeremy Corbyn's office confident they are about to flood airwaves with supportive pro-Corbyn shadow ministers, MPs, unions, council leaders. | Jeremy Corbyn's office confident they are about to flood airwaves with supportive pro-Corbyn shadow ministers, MPs, unions, council leaders. |
| 5.12pm BST | 5.12pm BST |
| 17:12 | 17:12 |
| These are from the New Statesman’s George Eaton. | These are from the New Statesman’s George Eaton. |
| Angela and Maria Eagle, Chris Bryant, Vernon Coaker, Charlie Falconer still expected to resign. | Angela and Maria Eagle, Chris Bryant, Vernon Coaker, Charlie Falconer still expected to resign. |
| Labour MP on why they're acting now: "There's no safe seat north of Islington." | Labour MP on why they're acting now: "There's no safe seat north of Islington." |
| 5.09pm BST | 5.09pm BST |
| 17:09 | 17:09 |
| Labour has got one prominent new member today. This is from the author Robert Harris. | Labour has got one prominent new member today. This is from the author Robert Harris. |
| I have just joined the Labour Party. Under a new leader, it may be the best hope the country has | I have just joined the Labour Party. Under a new leader, it may be the best hope the country has |
| 5.06pm BST | 5.06pm BST |
| 17:06 | 17:06 |
| Here is some Twitter comment on Zoe Williams’ intervention. (See 4.48pm.) | Here is some Twitter comment on Zoe Williams’ intervention. (See 4.48pm.) |
| From CapX’s editor, Iain Martin | From CapX’s editor, Iain Martin |
| Corbyn loses @zoesqwilliams - it's like that bit in Titanic when they realise the fourth compartment is flooded. https://t.co/FjzlAyEe41 | Corbyn loses @zoesqwilliams - it's like that bit in Titanic when they realise the fourth compartment is flooded. https://t.co/FjzlAyEe41 |
| From Theo Bertram, a former Labour Downing Street adviser | From Theo Bertram, a former Labour Downing Street adviser |
| When @zoesqwilliams with heavy heart calls time on Corbyn, you can tell it's Labour - not Blairites - standing up. https://t.co/0v8YPwMb1t | When @zoesqwilliams with heavy heart calls time on Corbyn, you can tell it's Labour - not Blairites - standing up. https://t.co/0v8YPwMb1t |
| 5.01pm BST | 5.01pm BST |
| 17:01 | 17:01 |
| My colleague Rowena Mason thinks Labour MPs are deploying a form of industrial action. | My colleague Rowena Mason thinks Labour MPs are deploying a form of industrial action. |
| Labour plotters' goal to force Corbyn to resign by making life difficult as possible - effectively going on strike, no support in PMQs etc | Labour plotters' goal to force Corbyn to resign by making life difficult as possible - effectively going on strike, no support in PMQs etc |
| 4.56pm BST | 4.56pm BST |
| 16:56 | 16:56 |
| Vernon Coaker resigns from shadow cabinet | Vernon Coaker resigns from shadow cabinet |
| Vernon Coaker has now resigned as shadow Northern Ireland secretary. | Vernon Coaker has now resigned as shadow Northern Ireland secretary. |
| Vernon Coaker becomes eighth shadow cabinet member to resign. https://t.co/u6n1T9WUHU | Vernon Coaker becomes eighth shadow cabinet member to resign. https://t.co/u6n1T9WUHU |
| 4.53pm BST | 4.53pm BST |
| 16:53 | 16:53 |
| Westminster Public Affairs, a PR company, has conducted a survey of 50 people who stood as Labour candidates in 2015. It says 62% of them think there should be a leadership contest. | Westminster Public Affairs, a PR company, has conducted a survey of 50 people who stood as Labour candidates in 2015. It says 62% of them think there should be a leadership contest. |
| 4.48pm BST | 4.48pm BST |
| 16:48 | 16:48 |
| My colleague Zoe Williams thinks it is time for Jeremy Corbyn to move on. Here’s an extract from her latest column. | My colleague Zoe Williams thinks it is time for Jeremy Corbyn to move on. Here’s an extract from her latest column. |
| I don’t agree that his time as leader has been a disaster – leave would have won the referendum regardless. It would always have turned the debate into a conversation about immigration and hammered out its racist cant, whoever opposed it. A more centrist Labour leader would have made more concessions – offered bogus and unworkable migrant caps – but the more strident voice would still have won. Corbyn has been a one-man Occupy movement, squatting in the office of Labour leader on behalf of the people (of whom I was one) who felt the party’s high command was lifeless and intellectually spent. The point has been made, and the apparatus now has to be put to better use. | I don’t agree that his time as leader has been a disaster – leave would have won the referendum regardless. It would always have turned the debate into a conversation about immigration and hammered out its racist cant, whoever opposed it. A more centrist Labour leader would have made more concessions – offered bogus and unworkable migrant caps – but the more strident voice would still have won. Corbyn has been a one-man Occupy movement, squatting in the office of Labour leader on behalf of the people (of whom I was one) who felt the party’s high command was lifeless and intellectually spent. The point has been made, and the apparatus now has to be put to better use. |
| And here is Zoe’s article in full. | And here is Zoe’s article in full. |
| Related: Jeremy Corbyn has made his point. Now it’s time for Labour to move on | Zoe Williams | Related: Jeremy Corbyn has made his point. Now it’s time for Labour to move on | Zoe Williams |
| 4.42pm BST | 4.42pm BST |
| 16:42 | 16:42 |
| This is from Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh. | This is from Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh. |
| Lab source tells me Corbyn will try to appoint new Shadow Cabinet this evening as show of defiance. Only prob: more may quit after that | Lab source tells me Corbyn will try to appoint new Shadow Cabinet this evening as show of defiance. Only prob: more may quit after that |
| 4.40pm BST | 4.40pm BST |
| 16:40 | 16:40 |
| This is from Newsnight’s diplomatic editor, Mark Urban. | This is from Newsnight’s diplomatic editor, Mark Urban. |
| Today's statements in EU27: they're not offering new deal to UK,but urging more time in hope Brit political earthquake causes Brexit rethink | Today's statements in EU27: they're not offering new deal to UK,but urging more time in hope Brit political earthquake causes Brexit rethink |
| 4.33pm BST | 4.33pm BST |
| 16:33 | 16:33 |
| This is from Boris Johnson’s sister Rachel (who voted remain). | This is from Boris Johnson’s sister Rachel (who voted remain). |
| Everyone keeps saying "we are where we are" but nobody seems to have the slightest clue where that is | Everyone keeps saying "we are where we are" but nobody seems to have the slightest clue where that is |
| Whose fault is that, Rachel? | Whose fault is that, Rachel? |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.41pm BST | at 4.41pm BST |
| 4.28pm BST | 4.28pm BST |
| 16:28 | 16:28 |
| Len McCluskey implies Unite will try to deselect MPs disloyal to Corbyn if leadership challenge happens | Len McCluskey implies Unite will try to deselect MPs disloyal to Corbyn if leadership challenge happens |
| Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, has written a piece for the Guardian defending Jeremy Corbyn. He implied that, if there is a leadership election, Unite would favour trying to deselect MPs disloyal to Corbyn. | Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, has written a piece for the Guardian defending Jeremy Corbyn. He implied that, if there is a leadership election, Unite would favour trying to deselect MPs disloyal to Corbyn. |
| Here’s an extract. | Here’s an extract. |
| A new leadership election is divisive and unnecessary. But if enough MPs want one, then bring it on. I am sure that Corbyn will secure a fresh mandate. But let me make two things clear. | A new leadership election is divisive and unnecessary. But if enough MPs want one, then bring it on. I am sure that Corbyn will secure a fresh mandate. But let me make two things clear. |
| First, if anyone is undemocratic enough to think that there can be a new leadership election with the existing leader kept off the ballot, then they are setting the Labour party on course for a split. | First, if anyone is undemocratic enough to think that there can be a new leadership election with the existing leader kept off the ballot, then they are setting the Labour party on course for a split. |
| And second, Unite has hitherto opposed any plans to change the party rules governing mandatory re-selection of Labour MPs. That, too, we have looked on as a divisive distraction. | And second, Unite has hitherto opposed any plans to change the party rules governing mandatory re-selection of Labour MPs. That, too, we have looked on as a divisive distraction. |
| But those MPs who have missed no opportunity to tweet and brief against the party’s elected leader over the last 10 months will find that their disloyalty finds no favour with party members and will make this an increasingly difficult line to hold. | But those MPs who have missed no opportunity to tweet and brief against the party’s elected leader over the last 10 months will find that their disloyalty finds no favour with party members and will make this an increasingly difficult line to hold. |
| And here is the full article. | And here is the full article. |
| Related: Labour mutineers are betraying our national interest | Len McCluskey | Related: Labour mutineers are betraying our national interest | Len McCluskey |
| 4.19pm BST | 4.19pm BST |
| 16:19 | 16:19 |
| Seema Malhotra has released the text of the letter she sent to Jeremy Corbyn resigning as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. | Seema Malhotra has released the text of the letter she sent to Jeremy Corbyn resigning as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. |
| It is with regret that I confirm I have resigned from the Shadow Cabinet. Here is my resignation letter. pic.twitter.com/sUqB4Cby0R | It is with regret that I confirm I have resigned from the Shadow Cabinet. Here is my resignation letter. pic.twitter.com/sUqB4Cby0R |
| 4.13pm BST | 4.13pm BST |
| 16:13 | 16:13 |