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Brexit triggers Labour crisis: Gloria Del Piero resigns from shadow cabinet – live Brexit triggers Labour crisis: Gloria De Piero and Ian Murray latest to quit – live
(35 minutes later)
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. 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.
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
12.10pm BST
12:10
Sturgeon says Scotland could try to block UK withdrawal from the EU
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has told the BBC that the Scottish parliament could try to block the UK leaving the EU.
It would do this by withholding “legislative consent”. Some UK laws require the consent of the Scottish parliament and it is arguable that a bill to take the UK out of the EU would come into this category. Sturgeon said:
The issue you are talking about is would there have to be a legislative consent motion or motions for the legislation that extricates the UK from the European Union?
Looking at it from a logical perspective, I find it hard to believe that there wouldn’t be that requirement - I suspect that the UK government will take a very different view on that and we’ll have to see where that discussion ends up.
And she told the Sunday Politics Scotland that that vetoing withdrawal would be an option, because it would be in Scotland’s interests.
If the Scottish parliament was judging this on the basis of what’s right for Scotland then the option of saying look we’re not to vote for something that’s against Scotland’s interest, of course that’s got to be on the table.
Earlier the SNP MP Pete Wishart pointed out that the House of Lords European Union committee suggested that withdrawal from the EU would require Scottish legislative consent.
This is very interesting. The Scottish Parliament's 'consent is required'. pic.twitter.com/BiGjIC7HqN
Updated
at 12.17pm BST
11.56am BST
11:56
Momentum, the Labour group for Corbyn supporters, is encouraging people to use an ‘I’m with Corbyn’ twibbon.
Show your support for Jeremy with the 'I'm with Corbyn' twibbonhttps://t.co/N7vibiiAtD
Updated
at 12.15pm BST
11.54am BST
11:54
Peter Walker
Conservative divisions over who should succeed David Cameron have broken into the open, with Philip Hammond warning Boris Johnson and other Brexit supporters they need to tell voters how they plan to reconcile “mutually incompatible” promises made during the referendum campaign.
While Jeremy Corbyn is facing a very open revolt from his shadow cabinet, tensions among Tories are thus far less obvious but appear set to increase as Johnson, Theresa May and a series of other likely candidates jostle for supremacy in the coming weeks.
Also on Sunday, Iain Duncan Smith insisted that the next Conservative leader must come from the pro-leave camp, a condition which if met would exclude May, seen as the closest rival to Johnson.
Hammond, the foreign secretary, meanwhile held out the possibility of a new prime minister opting for the UK to remain within the EU’s free trade area, even if that meant allowing uncontrolled flows of people from the bloc.
Hammond warned that Johnson had a potentially difficult task ahead. “The key leave campaigners made contradictory promises to the British people,” Hammond told ITV’s Peston show. “I’m sorry to say that but they did.” He added: “Boris is one of those.”
Hammond continued:
Now they will have to resolve that by explaining how they will balance the tradeoffs between the different things they promised which are mutually incompatible. That will be hugely disappointing to a lot of people in this country who voted leave. How that tradeoff is made is the key question now for the future prosperity of this country.
11.50am BST
11:50
McDonnell says if there is a Labour leadership contest it should take place quickly.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has told BBC News that if there is a Labour leadership contest, it should not last as long as last year’s.
He said he would like it to be over in two or three months, so that Jeremy Corbyn can return as leader in October, in time for a general election.
Asked about Corbyn’s decision to sack Hilary Benn, McDonnell said that Corbyn is one of the kindest people in politics but that he was “really disappointed and saddened” when he found out that Benn was involved in a plot against him. McDonnell said Corbyn rang Benn when he heard about this and Benn admitted it. Corbyn then had no choice but to sack him, McDonnell said.
Updated
at 12.14pm BST
11.43am BST11.43am BST
11:4311:43
According to Sky News, Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary and the only Labour MP in Scotland, has now resigned. We were tipping him to resign earlier.According to Sky News, Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary and the only Labour MP in Scotland, has now resigned. We were tipping him to resign earlier.
Sky sources: Shadow Secretary of Scotland Ian Murray resigns from Corbyn's shadow cabinet https://t.co/PifkqUBDja pic.twitter.com/AeNt920AApSky sources: Shadow Secretary of Scotland Ian Murray resigns from Corbyn's shadow cabinet https://t.co/PifkqUBDja pic.twitter.com/AeNt920AAp
11.39am BST11.39am BST
11:3911:39
Pat McFadden, who was sacked by Jeremy Corbyn as shadow Europe minister, is on Sky News saying Labour needs a new leader.Pat McFadden, who was sacked by Jeremy Corbyn as shadow Europe minister, is on Sky News saying Labour needs a new leader.
He says that for Labour the exam question changed on Thursday. When Corbyn was elected, people did not expect an election until 2020. Now it looks as if there could be one much earlier.He says that for Labour the exam question changed on Thursday. When Corbyn was elected, people did not expect an election until 2020. Now it looks as if there could be one much earlier.
He says the EU referendum campaign showed Corbyn’s inability to show leadership.He says the EU referendum campaign showed Corbyn’s inability to show leadership.
He says that, if the Tories were to win the next election easily, the country could end up with a one-party, rightwing Tory state.He says that, if the Tories were to win the next election easily, the country could end up with a one-party, rightwing Tory state.
11.35am BST11.35am BST
11:3511:35
Liam Fox says he is thinking of standing for the Conservative party leadershipLiam Fox says he is thinking of standing for the Conservative party leadership
Liam Fox, the Conservative former defence secretary, told the Sunday Politics that he was thinking of standing for the Conservative party leadership. Asked about this, he replied:Liam Fox, the Conservative former defence secretary, told the Sunday Politics that he was thinking of standing for the Conservative party leadership. Asked about this, he replied:
I have not decided yet. I am thinking about it, it would be dishonest to say otherwise. But I will make a decision once I have spoken to my colleagues in parliament.I have not decided yet. I am thinking about it, it would be dishonest to say otherwise. But I will make a decision once I have spoken to my colleagues in parliament.
11.33am BST11.33am BST
11:3311:33
Food prices are likely to go up as a short-term consequence of Britain’s vote to leave the EU, owing to the UK’s dependence on imports, according to the president of the National Farmers Union, my colleague Adam Vaughan reports.Food prices are likely to go up as a short-term consequence of Britain’s vote to leave the EU, owing to the UK’s dependence on imports, according to the president of the National Farmers Union, my colleague Adam Vaughan reports.
Related: UK food prices set to rise after Brexit voteRelated: UK food prices set to rise after Brexit vote
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.48am BSTat 11.48am BST
11.31am BST11.31am BST
11:3111:31
Emily Thornberry, the shadow defence secretary, has just told BBC News that now is not the time to having a leadership contest. She says she cannot understand why colleagues are challenging Jeremy Corbyn.Emily Thornberry, the shadow defence secretary, has just told BBC News that now is not the time to having a leadership contest. She says she cannot understand why colleagues are challenging Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour has to do the best it can for the country, she says.Labour has to do the best it can for the country, she says.
Half the country voted to leave the EU, she says. That is because they feel the system is not working for them.Half the country voted to leave the EU, she says. That is because they feel the system is not working for them.
She says the party turned in on itself after the Scottish referendum, and lost support. It must not do that again, she says.She says the party turned in on itself after the Scottish referendum, and lost support. It must not do that again, she says.
Q: But Corbyn is not very effective during the EU referendum.Q: But Corbyn is not very effective during the EU referendum.
Thornberry says she does not accept that. She says she thinks Corbyn’s voice was more honest during the referendum than David Cameron’s. Remain would have done better if Corbyn had been given more prominence.Thornberry says she does not accept that. She says she thinks Corbyn’s voice was more honest during the referendum than David Cameron’s. Remain would have done better if Corbyn had been given more prominence.
Q: But his position is untenable.Q: But his position is untenable.
Thornberry says she does not accept that. He has a lot of support in the country, she says.Thornberry says she does not accept that. He has a lot of support in the country, she says.
11.26am BST11.26am BST
11:2611:26
John McTernan, the former Tony Blair adviser who is on the far right of the Labour party, has just told BBC News that Jeremy Corbyn should go. Addressing the argument that Corbyn has a mandate from the members, he said: “He did not have any mandate to be utterly useless.”John McTernan, the former Tony Blair adviser who is on the far right of the Labour party, has just told BBC News that Jeremy Corbyn should go. Addressing the argument that Corbyn has a mandate from the members, he said: “He did not have any mandate to be utterly useless.”
11.23am BST
11:23
John McDonnell is on Sky News now. It is his fourth interview of the morning.
He says, even more explicitly, that he will not stand for the leadership. He will not be a candidate come what may, he says.
11.13am BST
11:13
De Piero tells Corbyn that he cannot deliver a general election victory
Here is an extract from Gloria De Piero’s resignation letter, as quoted in Anushka’s story. De Piero told Corbyn:
I have always enjoyed a warm personal relationship with you and I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve in your shadow cabinet. I accepted that invitation because I thought it was right to support you in your attempt to achieve the Labour victory the country so badly needs.
I do not believe you can deliver that victory at a general election, which may take place in a matter of months. I have been contacted by many of my members this weekend and It is clear that a good number of them share that view and have lost faith in your leadership.
Updated
at 11.15am BST
11.08am BST
11:08
Gloria De Piero resigns from shadow cabinet
Anushka Asthana
Gloria De Piero, the shadow minister for young people and voter registration, has resigned, my colleague Anushka Asthana reports.
Gloria de Piero has become the latest high-profile MP to resign from Jeremy Corbyn’s cabinet, with more than half of the team expected to stand down on Sunday in a coup against Jeremy Corbyn, triggered by the result of the EU referendum and the leader’s decision to sack Hilary Benn.
Several members of shadow cabinet told the Guardian they were writing their resignation letters after Heidi Alexander, the shadow health secretary, stepped down on Sunday morning.
Related: Half of Labour shadow cabinet set to resign after Hilary Benn sacked
Updated
at 11.13am BST
11.04am BST
11:04
The Labour MP Ivan Lewis, a former shadow cabinet member who is now running to be the party’s candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, has said Corbyn should resign. He said:
Unfortunately, it is clear Jeremy Corbyn cannot lead us back to government and there is a real risk we will suffer a worse election result than in 2015.
11.02am BST
11:02
Rajeev Syal
The grassroots movement widely seen as responsible for ensuring that Jeremy Corbyn became Labour’s leader has launched a campaign to save him in the face of resignations from the shadow cabinet.
Momentum is already planning to set up phone banks across the UK to bring out its claimed 100,000 supporters, and recruit new ones, sources said.
11.00am BST
11:00
The BBC is saying that up to nine members of the shadow cabinet will resign.
11.00am BST
11:00
Libby Brooks
Nicola Sturgeon has warned any future Conservative prime minster against blocking a second referendum on Scottish independence.
Asked on the Andrew Marr Show this morning what her reaction would be should the next Tory leader refuse to allow a new independence poll, Scotland’s first minister replied:
I think the people of Scotland would find that completely unacceptable.
I don’t think it is acceptable in the context we find ourselves in for anybody trying to dictate to Scotland the terms of how we seek to take the country forward. It is simply not acceptable and I would caution any future prime minister against putting themselves in that position.
Surgeon also insisted that if a second independence referendum is held, prompted by the UK-wide vote to leave the EU, despite every local authority in Scotland voting to remain, “it is not going to be a re-run of the 2014 referendum”.
The context and the circumstances have changed dramatically the UK that Scotland voted to remain within in 2014 doesn’t exist anymore.
Her warning came as a polling carried out immediately after the EU referendum result reveals a healthy bounce in support for independence. In 2014, Scotland voted to remain part of the UK by 55% to 45%.
10.57am BST
10:57
John McDonnell's interview on Peston on Sunday
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, is up next.
Q: Can Corbyn survive?
Yes, says McDonnell. He says he is saddened and disappointed by what is going on.
Q: You won’t put yourself forward?
No, says McDonnell. If there is contest, Corbyn will stand, and McDonnell will run his campaign. He says Corbyn will win again. He has walked every electoral contest he has faced.
McDonnell is repeating some of the points he made earlier on the Sunday Politics.
10.54am BST
10:54
Heidi Alexander's interview on Peston on Sunday
Heidi Alexander, who resigned this morning as shadow health secretary, is on Peston on Sunday.
She says she is not standing for the leadership herself.
Q; How many more shadow cabinet ministers will resign?
Alexander says she thinks “a fair number” are in the same position.
Q: We have heard 10.
Alexander says she is not sure what the numbers are.
Q: When should Labour get a new leader?
Alexander says many in Labour are desperately unhappy with the the EU referendum result. She says she thinks it makes sense for Labour to have its leadership contest at the same time as the Tory one.
Updated
at 11.16am BST
10.50am BST
10:50
The former Labour MP Chris Williamson, a Corbyn supporter, has criticised those trying to undermine him.
I am shocked by the conniving behaviour of some Labour MPs at this time of great national uncertainty. Their duty is to unify not to plot.
He has also flagged up this research which challenges claims that Corbyn fought a low-key campaign in the referendum.
This research gives the lie to the plotters' assertions about Jeremy's role in the EU referendum. #KeepCorbyn https://t.co/CYQgDgKanY