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Brexit triggers Labour crisis: Andy Burnham disavows Corbyn coup – live Brexit triggers Labour crisis: Andy Burnham disavows Corbyn coup – live
(35 minutes later)
2.06pm BST
14:06
Momentum organises rally to express support for Corbyn
Momentum, the Labour group for Jeremy Corbyn supporters, is organising a rally outside the House of Commons tomorrow at 6pm (when the parliamentary Labour party is meeting) to express support for Corbyn. In an email to supporters, it says:
The future is uncertain. We face a Tory Brexit, Cameron has resigned and we will likely have a general election with the potential of Britain lurching yet further to the right.
A small number of Labour MPs are using this as an opportunity to oust Jeremy, disrespect the Labour membership who elected him and disregard our movement for a new kind of politics.
We cannot let this undemocratic behaviour succeed.
Join us at 6pm outside Parliament tomorrow, Monday 27th June.
The Parliamentary Labour Party will be meeting inside, so let’s make sure they can hear us, the Labour Party members and voters, outside.
We must now stand strong to #KeepCorbyn and build our movement.
1.55pm BST
13:55
Jeremy Corbyn has left his home. He ignored journalists asking if he was going to resign (although he was very friendly to the police officers in attendance).
.@JeremyCorbyn leaves his house in North London during a day of resignations among his shadow cabinet https://t.co/xPAoJRqQHS
1.51pm BST
13:51
Graeme Wearden
Shares are expected to suffer fresh losses on Monday as the unfolding political crisis in Britain grips the financial markets.
The FTSE 100 index is currently tipped to fall by 2.8% tomorrow morning, according to a market being run today by IG, the City spread-betting firm.
That would knock around 180 points off the blue-chip index, on top of the 199 points lost during Friday’s whirlwind session.
IG's Sunday FTSE is open and trading at 5958: 180 points lower than Friday's official UK close. pic.twitter.com/Apr0DBnbAV
Germany’s DAX is being called down 2% too, reflecting concerns that the eurozone’s largest economy will suffer from Brexit uncertainty.
Friday’s rout wiped more than $2tn off shares worldwide. Middle East markets, which were closed on Friday, are suffering heavy losses in Sunday trading. Egypt’s index has slumped by 5%, Dubai is down 3.15% while the Qatar and Kuwait bourses dipped around 1%.
Dubai and other middle eastern stock mkts slump as investors weigh #Brexit fallout. https://t.co/SHAWeLM7bp pic.twitter.com/zWa2xSF05l
Updated
at 1.54pm BST
1.48pm BST
13:48
Seema Malhotra resigns from shadow cabinet
Seema Malhotra has resigned as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, my colleague Anushka Asthana reports.
EXC: Sources close to Seema Malhotra tell me she has resigned. Shadow chief secretary and has been very loyal.
... @SeemaMalhotra1 introduced Corbyn yesterday... She's been v loyal, big position, works closely with John M.
1.46pm BST
13:46
Libby Brooks
STV News is reporting that a former chair of Scottish Labour, Jamie Glackin, will back independence in a second referendum.
Glackin, who has served on Labour’s Scottish executive for six years, told STV News:
The whole landscape has changed. We are in a completely different place now. We have to accept the consequences of this vote. If a second referendum on independence were held tomorrow, Yes would win. The Labour party cannot be seen to stand in the way of that.
On Saturday the former Labour first minister Henry McLeish likewise signalled he would be minded to support independence in a second referendum, writing for Holyrood magazine:
More significantly the constitutional or Scotland question has been reframed.
In 2014 the referendum question of “yes or no” was about remaining in the UK which of course carried with it automatic membership of the European Union ... The debate about Scotland’s future has psychologically, constitutionally and politically moved on. This is no longer a narrow nationalist vote, an SNP issue or just another “indy ref 2” on the question of in or out of the UK.
Updated
at 1.52pm BST
1.36pm BST
13:36
Lisa O'Carroll
As the coup against Corbyn began, deputy leader Tom Watson was notably distancing himself, posting pictures of himself partying at Glastonbury on social media.
He was partying until 4am at the silent disco at the festival, and returned home by train this morning.
He apparently uploaded pictures and video of himself on to Snapchat which quickly went viral.
The timelapse video started at 9pm last night with the MP for Bromwich East at Tom Robinson’s gig singing along to his hit 2-4-6-8-Motorway, and showed him later at the main Pyramid stage for Adele. It ended around 3.30am at the silent disco adjacent to the VIP hospitality bar.
Seen as the party unifier when he took on the role as Corbyn’s deputy, Watson was spotted just before 10am at the local train station just as the party putsch began.
Tom Watson, Labour's Deputy leader, returns to London following a night at Glastonbury. pic.twitter.com/s1gDmzA156
Updated
at 1.47pm BST
1.23pm BST1.23pm BST
13:2313:23
Lilian Greenwood's resignation letterLilian Greenwood's resignation letter
The Press Association’s Jack Maidment has posted Lilian Greenwood’s resignation letter on Twitter.The Press Association’s Jack Maidment has posted Lilian Greenwood’s resignation letter on Twitter.
Lilian Greenwood's resignation letter. Says new Labour leader needed to "bridge the widening divides in our Party". pic.twitter.com/wORk2Du7dsLilian Greenwood's resignation letter. Says new Labour leader needed to "bridge the widening divides in our Party". pic.twitter.com/wORk2Du7ds
1.21pm BST1.21pm BST
13:2113:21
Emily Thornberry, the shadow defence secretary, is on the World at One now defending Jeremy Corbyn.Emily Thornberry, the shadow defence secretary, is on the World at One now defending Jeremy Corbyn.
She says she is surprised by today’s resignations. She says that Ian Murray, who resigned this morning as shadow Scottish secretary, spoke out against Corbyn at Friday’s shadow cabinet meeting, but that other shadow ministers didn’t.She says she is surprised by today’s resignations. She says that Ian Murray, who resigned this morning as shadow Scottish secretary, spoke out against Corbyn at Friday’s shadow cabinet meeting, but that other shadow ministers didn’t.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.27pm BSTat 1.27pm BST
1.19pm BST1.19pm BST
13:1913:19
Burnham urges Labour not to plunge into civil warBurnham urges Labour not to plunge into civil war
Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, has urged Labour not to plunge itself into civil war.Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, has urged Labour not to plunge itself into civil war.
At an uncertain time like this for our country, I cannot see how it makes sense for the Opposition to plunge itself into a civil war. 1/3At an uncertain time like this for our country, I cannot see how it makes sense for the Opposition to plunge itself into a civil war. 1/3
I have never taken part in a coup against any Leader of the Labour Party and I am not going to start now. 2/3I have never taken part in a coup against any Leader of the Labour Party and I am not going to start now. 2/3
It is for our members to decide who leads our Party & 10 months ago they gave Jeremy Corbyn a resounding mandate. I respect that & them. 3/3It is for our members to decide who leads our Party & 10 months ago they gave Jeremy Corbyn a resounding mandate. I respect that & them. 3/3
1.14pm BST1.14pm BST
13:1413:14
Seven shadow cabinet ministers have left so far (six resigned, one sacked)Seven shadow cabinet ministers have left so far (six resigned, one sacked)
Here’s a list of the seven members of the shadow cabinet who have gone today.Here’s a list of the seven members of the shadow cabinet who have gone today.
Gone from Labour's front bench today;Hilary BennHeidi AlexanderGloria Del PieroIan MurrayLilian GreenwoodLucy PowellKerry McCarthy...Gone from Labour's front bench today;Hilary BennHeidi AlexanderGloria Del PieroIan MurrayLilian GreenwoodLucy PowellKerry McCarthy...
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.16pm BSTat 1.16pm BST
1.13pm BST1.13pm BST
13:1313:13
Kerry McCarthy resigns from shadow cabinetKerry McCarthy resigns from shadow cabinet
Kerry McCarthy, the shadow environment secretary, has also resigned, according to Sky News.Kerry McCarthy, the shadow environment secretary, has also resigned, according to Sky News.
1.03pm BST1.03pm BST
13:0313:03
Lucy Powell resigns from shadow cabinetLucy Powell resigns from shadow cabinet
Lucy Powell has resigned as shadow education secretary.Lucy Powell has resigned as shadow education secretary.
I've just spoken to Jeremy Corbyn to tell him that with regret I'm resigning from the Shadow Cabinet. pic.twitter.com/deLbWYaczdI've just spoken to Jeremy Corbyn to tell him that with regret I'm resigning from the Shadow Cabinet. pic.twitter.com/deLbWYaczd
1.00pm BST
13:00
You can tell an opposition leader is in trouble when the fact that the shadow home secretary is not resigning makes the news. But that is what Sky News is reporting about Andy Burnham. Burnham is trying to get elected as Labour’s candidate for mayor of Greater Manchester, and he may have concluded that joining a coup against Jeremy Corbyn would not help his chances.
Updated
at 1.15pm BST
12.58pm BST
12:58
Philip Oltermann
What is the German government’s view of the Article 50 question? In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio aired on Sunday, Angela Merkel’s chief of staff said he expected the formal mechanism for Britain’s departure from the European Union to be triggered “within weeks or months” rather than days.
Asked if he thought Article 50 would be triggered at Tuesday’s summit in Brussels, as the European parliament president, Martin Schulz, has asked for, Peter Altmaier said:
I don’t have any indication that this will happen, but I rather think that the application will take place in the coming weeks or months, possibly even after the new government has been formed.
Proposed with a scenario where Britain’s exit could end up a reverse mirror image of Turkey’s accession to the EU, a process seemingly forever postponed, the former environment minister and European commission official who is seen as one of Merkel’s closest allies said:
My starting point is that Great Britain has made a clear decision. I assume that there will be a formation of a new government which will organise itself and in time make its application. We should wait for this to happen with calm. We should make clear that all remaining European states will pull together.
Altmaier’s interview appears to mirror the sentiment behind chancellor Merkel’s statement on Friday, in which she seemed to deliberately downplay the drama of the moment, repeatedly appealing for “calm and level-headedness”.
But the German government’s stance on this is by no means unanimous. Foreign minister Steinmeier on Saturday emphatically urged Cameron not to waste any time in starting the departure process, and with the Social Democrats gearing up for the general election next year, any public clashes with Merkel will be relished by her coalition partners.
Updated
at 1.15pm BST
12.55pm BST
12:55
Vernon Coaker, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, has said he is considering his position. He said:
All of us are going to have to consider the positions that we hold and the best way forward for our party. Clearly we are all going to have to reflect on what that should be, whether we stay or whether we go. That’s a decision I will have to make along with all of my colleagues.
12.51pm BST
12:51
Lilian Greenwood resigns from shadow cabinet
Lilian Greenwood, the shadow transport secretary, has resigned, Sky reports.
Lilian Greenwood has resigned as Shadow Transport Secretary.... #Labour
12.47pm BST
12:47
The Labour MP Wes Streeting has just told BBC News that Jeremy Corbyn should resign. He said that Corbyn had many redeeming features, but “being an effective leader of the opposition is not one of them”. He said that he was disappointed by Corbyn’s performance during the EU referendum, but that that was not the only problem. Corbyn cannot land blows on the Tories, Streeting said. He said a particularly good example came when Corbyn delivered a Commons statement after the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith and virtually ignored that.
Streeting said that Corbyn was good at speaking to the faithful and to the converted, but that he could not win people over to Labour or provide “clear, strong leadership”.
He said Labour party members were turning against Corbyn.
And he urged any Labour members who were unsure to watch the half-hour Vice News fly-on-the-wall documentary about Corbyn. He said he would defy anyone to watch that and conclude that Corbyn was running a “credible, competent team ... ready to take on the mantle of government”.
Updated
at 12.50pm BST
12.37pm BST
12:37
Farron says Lib Dems will go into next election opposing EU withdrawal
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, has just told BBC News that the Lib Dems will go into the next election saying the UK should remain in the EU, or rejoin. He says that he accepts the result of the referendum, but that politicians should continue to fight for what they believe in.
He also said that what was dubbed “Project Fear’ in the referendum campaign could now be seen as “Project Colossal Understatement” in the light of what happened to the pound and the stock market on Friday.
Farron’s comment raises the prospect that the Lib Dems could be the only main party going into the next election firmly committed to rejecting EU withdrawal. Labour is also a strongly pro-European party, but we don’t know what its manifesto stance on this would be. Hilary Benn, the former shadow foreign secretary, said this morning (see 9.52am) that he thought the party would have to respect the result of the referendum.
UPDATE: Here is my colleague Patrick Wintour on what Labour could say about the EU in its election manifesto.
A UK Labour policy could be pro-EU but give British people 2nd referendum once final terms of Brexit are known. Bojo's original policy.
Updated
at 12.46pm BST
12.26pm BST
12:26
Severin Carrell
Although Nicola Sturgeon is suggesting the Scottish parliament could stop the UK withdrawing from the EU (see 12.10pm), Prof Adam Tomkins, now a Scottish Tory MSP and also a leading expert on UK constitutional law, has tweeted immediately to say this is not so.
Apart from the inherent political contradiction of Sturgeon insisting that Westminster cannot deny or thwart the will of the Scottish people over a second independence referendum, Tomkins says that Holyrood’s legislative consent powers do not override Westminster’s will.
Lots of nonsense on here about Holyrood having power to block or veto Brexit. It has no such power.
Holyrood has the power to show or to withhold its consent. But withholding consent is not the same as blocking.
12.22pm BST
12:22
Ian Murray is now speaking to BBC News. He says Diane Abbott is wrong about the shadow cabinet resignations being planned months ago. (See 10.23am.) He says his final decision to resign was prompted by the sacking of Hilary Benn.
He says he likes Corbyn, and finds him principled and funny, but thinks he is not suited to lead the party into an election.
Updated
at 12.35pm BST
12.19pm BST
12:19
Libby Brooks
Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary, was also on the Sunday Politics Scotland. He said Labour could not recover with Jeremy Corbyn in charge.
The Labour party needs to stop talking to itself. I don’t think at this moment in time [Corbyn] can be prime minister.
12.12pm BST
12:12
The Labour MPs Stephen Kinnock and Tristram Hunt have both told Sky News this morning that Jeremy Corbyn should resign. Kinnock said the party needed a “hard-headed negotiator” to take charge in the light of the challenges thrown up by the referendum result. And Hunt said that if Corbyn was having to resort to sacking someone like Hilary Benn in the middle of the night he could find himself unable to find people to fill all his frontbench posts.
Updated
at 12.16pm BST