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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/26/brexit-live-jeremy-corbyn-sacks-hilary-benn-tory-leadership
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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
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| Brexit triggers Corbyn coup: seven shadow cabinet members quit – live | Brexit triggers Corbyn coup: seven shadow cabinet members quit – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.28pm BST | |
| 16:28 | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Related: Labour mutineers are betraying our national interest | Len McCluskey | |
| 4.19pm BST | |
| 16:19 | |
| 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 | |
| 4.13pm BST | |
| 16:13 | |
| 4.09pm BST | |
| 16:09 | |
| Heseltine says MPs should 'start the fightback' and make the case for 'rethinking' referendum result | |
| Lord Heseltine, the Conservative former deputy prime minister, was interviewed on Sky News earlier. He said he thought the House of Commons would not pass legislation to leave the EU without either a general election, or a second referendum once the terms of withdrawal are clear. | |
| There is a majority of something like 350 in the House of Commons broadly in favour of the European relationship. There is no way you are going to get those people to say black is white and change their minds unless a) they know what the deal is and b) it has been supported either by an election or by another referendum. So there’s a dramatic urgency to get on with the negotiations. | |
| He also said that an all-party group of MPs should “start the fightback” and make the case of rethinking the result of the referendum. | |
| My preoccupation is to start the fightback now. And to start the fightback, we need an all-party group of members of the House of Commons who will preserve the options and articulate the case for Britain rethinking the result of the referendum. That process needs to start today. | |
| Michael Heseltine says an all party group is needed to start the "fight back" against the #EUref result https://t.co/uicZMl6qsT | |
| 3.46pm BST | 3.46pm BST |
| 15:46 | 15:46 |
| Byrne says Corbyn should resign | Byrne says Corbyn should resign |
| Liam Byrne, the former Labour cabinet minister, is on Sky News now. He says that he has been talking to activists in his constituency and they do not think Jeremy Corbyn is the right person to lead the party forward. | Liam Byrne, the former Labour cabinet minister, is on Sky News now. He says that he has been talking to activists in his constituency and they do not think Jeremy Corbyn is the right person to lead the party forward. |
| He says Britain has to negotiate a divorce with Europe. The Labour party needs to put forward its own proposals. | He says Britain has to negotiate a divorce with Europe. The Labour party needs to put forward its own proposals. |
| Corbyn has done a great job “resetting the Labour party”, he says. But now he needs to hand the baton over, he says. | Corbyn has done a great job “resetting the Labour party”, he says. But now he needs to hand the baton over, he says. |
| He says Labour needs to be able to field its A-team. It needs to then win an election, and then negotiate withdrawal from Europe on Labour’s terms. | He says Labour needs to be able to field its A-team. It needs to then win an election, and then negotiate withdrawal from Europe on Labour’s terms. |
| Q: Who should replace Corbyn? You? | Q: Who should replace Corbyn? You? |
| Absolutely not, says Byrne. He says he agrees with John McDonnell that party members are sovereign. But activists who have slogged their guts out during the referendum realise that Corbyn is not the person to lead the party now. | Absolutely not, says Byrne. He says he agrees with John McDonnell that party members are sovereign. But activists who have slogged their guts out during the referendum realise that Corbyn is not the person to lead the party now. |
| Q: These activists supported Corbyn last year. What has changed? | Q: These activists supported Corbyn last year. What has changed? |
| The job has changed, says Byrne. He says the vote to leave the EU means that Labour needs a leader who can go through the mind-numbing detail of getting the Brexit agreement right. And the party needs a leader who can inspire people. | The job has changed, says Byrne. He says the vote to leave the EU means that Labour needs a leader who can go through the mind-numbing detail of getting the Brexit agreement right. And the party needs a leader who can inspire people. |
| Corbyn has “lost the confidence of the locker room”, he says. | Corbyn has “lost the confidence of the locker room”, he says. |
| 3.32pm BST | 3.32pm BST |
| 15:32 | 15:32 |
| Lilian Greenwood, who resigned earlier as shadow transport secretary, has just told Sky News that having sat in the shadow cabinet for nine months she is clear that Jeremy Corbyn is not suited to be leader. | Lilian Greenwood, who resigned earlier as shadow transport secretary, has just told Sky News that having sat in the shadow cabinet for nine months she is clear that Jeremy Corbyn is not suited to be leader. |
| She said she would not be standing herself for the leadership. She did not have the skills set for that, she says. Asked who she would like to see leading the party, she said there were a number of suitable candidates. | She said she would not be standing herself for the leadership. She did not have the skills set for that, she says. Asked who she would like to see leading the party, she said there were a number of suitable candidates. |
| She said many ordinary members had been in touch saying the party needed a new leader. | She said many ordinary members had been in touch saying the party needed a new leader. |
| Q: A few days ago you posted a message on Twitter saying politicians should focus on uniting the country. | Q: A few days ago you posted a message on Twitter saying politicians should focus on uniting the country. |
| The country has spoken. All politicians must listen & now the focus must be on stabilising the economy & uniting our divided country. | The country has spoken. All politicians must listen & now the focus must be on stabilising the economy & uniting our divided country. |
| Greenwood said, if Labour was going to unite the country, it needed a credible leader. | Greenwood said, if Labour was going to unite the country, it needed a credible leader. |
| Q: Do you think Jeremy Corbyn will have the stomach to hang on? | Q: Do you think Jeremy Corbyn will have the stomach to hang on? |
| Greenwood said she hoped Corbyn would reflect. She spoke to him this afternoon and she hoped he would consider his position. | Greenwood said she hoped Corbyn would reflect. She spoke to him this afternoon and she hoped he would consider his position. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.44pm BST | at 3.44pm BST |
| 3.20pm BST | 3.20pm BST |
| 15:20 | 15:20 |
| Survation carried out a poll for the Mail on Sunday this weekend. It found, among other things, that a majority of people, and a majority of Labour voters from 2015 too, think Jeremy Corbyn should resign. | Survation carried out a poll for the Mail on Sunday this weekend. It found, among other things, that a majority of people, and a majority of Labour voters from 2015 too, think Jeremy Corbyn should resign. |
| Ironically, the same poll also shows Labour level pegging with the Conservatives, with both parties on 32%, which is one of Labour’s best performances in a recent poll. | Ironically, the same poll also shows Labour level pegging with the Conservatives, with both parties on 32%, which is one of Labour’s best performances in a recent poll. |
| Full data tables for our Mail on Sunday Post-Brexit Poll here:https://t.co/Fln9BHgnyk Sample size: 1,033Fieldwork dates: 24th - 25th June | Full data tables for our Mail on Sunday Post-Brexit Poll here:https://t.co/Fln9BHgnyk Sample size: 1,033Fieldwork dates: 24th - 25th June |
| 2.57pm BST | 2.57pm BST |
| 14:57 | 14:57 |
| According to the Lib Dems, more than 4,000 people have joined the party since the EU referendum. Tim Farron, the party leader, said this was because the Lib Dems were committed to keeping Britain in the EU. He said: | According to the Lib Dems, more than 4,000 people have joined the party since the EU referendum. Tim Farron, the party leader, said this was because the Lib Dems were committed to keeping Britain in the EU. He said: |
| We are the only party committed to a future for Britain at the heart of Europe. | We are the only party committed to a future for Britain at the heart of Europe. |
| Naturally we respect the result of the referendum, but Brexit will hit livelihoods, homes and jobs. As the Brexit camp renounce their promises on the NHS and immigration before the slogans have even been peeled off their battle bus, it is now clear that the British people were told lie after lie. | Naturally we respect the result of the referendum, but Brexit will hit livelihoods, homes and jobs. As the Brexit camp renounce their promises on the NHS and immigration before the slogans have even been peeled off their battle bus, it is now clear that the British people were told lie after lie. |
| We have always believed our economy and place in the world is stronger in Europe and it is only right that we offer that as a choice to people at the next general election – whenever that might be. | We have always believed our economy and place in the world is stronger in Europe and it is only right that we offer that as a choice to people at the next general election – whenever that might be. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.02pm BST | at 3.02pm BST |
| 2.29pm BST | 2.29pm BST |
| 14:29 | 14:29 |
| John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has been speaking about Brexit ahead of a meeting with his Italian counterpart in Rome. He said that although the US did not want Britain to leave the EU, Washington thought the international community would find a “sensible, thoughtful” way of dealing with the situation. He said: | John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has been speaking about Brexit ahead of a meeting with his Italian counterpart in Rome. He said that although the US did not want Britain to leave the EU, Washington thought the international community would find a “sensible, thoughtful” way of dealing with the situation. He said: |
| One country has made a decision. Obviously, it is a decision that the United States had hoped would go the other way. But it didn’t. And so we begin with a fundamental respect for voters. In a democracy, when the voters speak, it is the job of leaders to listen and then to make sure that they are moving in a way that is responsible to address the concerns. I am absolutely convinced – and I say this to the marketplace, I say this to citizens who are wondering what is going on – I am absolutely convinced, President Obama is absolutely convinced that we will be able to work through this in a sensible, thoughtful way that takes the best strengths of the EU, the best strengths of the marketplace, the best interests of our national security and international security, and works to keep them moving in the right direction for our countries. | One country has made a decision. Obviously, it is a decision that the United States had hoped would go the other way. But it didn’t. And so we begin with a fundamental respect for voters. In a democracy, when the voters speak, it is the job of leaders to listen and then to make sure that they are moving in a way that is responsible to address the concerns. I am absolutely convinced – and I say this to the marketplace, I say this to citizens who are wondering what is going on – I am absolutely convinced, President Obama is absolutely convinced that we will be able to work through this in a sensible, thoughtful way that takes the best strengths of the EU, the best strengths of the marketplace, the best interests of our national security and international security, and works to keep them moving in the right direction for our countries. |
| 2.16pm BST | 2.16pm BST |
| 14:16 | 14:16 |
| The Labour MP Paul Flynn has denounced those of his colleagues who are trying to bring down Jeremy Corbyn. | The Labour MP Paul Flynn has denounced those of his colleagues who are trying to bring down Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Orchestrated treachery. Resignations on the hour by the future BLAIR TRIBUTE PARTY.Self-indulgent party games as steel jobs are in new peril | Orchestrated treachery. Resignations on the hour by the future BLAIR TRIBUTE PARTY.Self-indulgent party games as steel jobs are in new peril |
| Crisis ahead!...... If all the Blairites resign from the Shadow Cabinet who will be left to leak the confidential business to the press? | Crisis ahead!...... If all the Blairites resign from the Shadow Cabinet who will be left to leak the confidential business to the press? |
| 2.10pm BST | 2.10pm BST |
| 14:10 | 14:10 |
| The Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, has denounced the coup against Jeremy Corbyn as “pathetic”, Channel 4 News’s Michael Crick reports. | The Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, has denounced the coup against Jeremy Corbyn as “pathetic”, Channel 4 News’s Michael Crick reports. |
| Unite leader Len McCluskey tells me it's "pathetic and futile coup" against Corbyn, "drip-fed". Says Tom Watson will back Corbyn | Unite leader Len McCluskey tells me it's "pathetic and futile coup" against Corbyn, "drip-fed". Says Tom Watson will back Corbyn |
| McCluskey adds that if l/ship election occurs "any attempt to keep Jeremy off the ballot-paper will lead to break-up of the Labour Party." | McCluskey adds that if l/ship election occurs "any attempt to keep Jeremy off the ballot-paper will lead to break-up of the Labour Party." |
| Crick says McCluskey believes Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, will support Corbyn. | Crick says McCluskey believes Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, will support Corbyn. |
| Len McCluskey tells me he's spoken to Tom Watson this morning and is confident Watson will back Corbyn | Len McCluskey tells me he's spoken to Tom Watson this morning and is confident Watson will back Corbyn |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.20pm BST | at 2.20pm BST |
| 2.06pm BST | 2.06pm BST |
| 14:06 | 14:06 |
| Momentum organises rally to express support for Corbyn | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | We cannot let this undemocratic behaviour succeed. |
| Join us at 6pm outside parliament tomorrow, Monday 27th June. | 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. | 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. | We must now stand strong to #KeepCorbyn and build our movement. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.20pm BST | at 2.20pm BST |
| 1.55pm BST | 1.55pm BST |
| 13:55 | 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). | 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 | .@JeremyCorbyn leaves his house in North London during a day of resignations among his shadow cabinet https://t.co/xPAoJRqQHS |