This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36632956

The article has changed 30 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Brexit: 'Half' of Labour top team set to resign Brexit: 'Half' of Labour top team set to resign
(35 minutes later)
Up to half of the shadow cabinet is set to resign in a bid to oust Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, it is understood.Up to half of the shadow cabinet is set to resign in a bid to oust Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, it is understood.
It follows shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn's sacking after he told the leader he had "lost confidence" in him.It follows shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn's sacking after he told the leader he had "lost confidence" in him.
Hours later, shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said she would resign. Both Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander and shadow minister Gloria de Piero have since resigned.
Mr Corbyn faces a vote of no confidence over claims he was "lacklustre" during the EU referendum - but shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Mr Corbyn was "not going anywhere". Mr Corbyn faces a vote of no confidence over claims he was "lacklustre" during the EU referendum, but John McDonnell said Mr Corbyn "wasn't going anywhere".
Sources close to the Labour leader have said he would stand again in the event of any leadership election - and Mr McDonnell said he would chair his campaign again, as he ruled out ever standing for the leadership himself. Union members on Labour's National Executive are to call for unity and will support Mr Corbyn's leadership, sources have told the Press Association.
Meanwhile, a shadow cabinet member told the BBC: "I imagine that there'll be a leadership election and Jeremy will win. But this is a total distraction." Meanwhile, sources close to Mr Corbyn have said he would stand again in the event of any leadership election - and Mr McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said he would chair his campaign again, as he ruled out ever standing for the leadership himself.
Iain Murray, shadow Scottish secretary and Labour's only Scottish MP, and Lillian Greenwood, who holds the shadow transport brief, are also expected to resign from the Labour front bench later on Sunday, BBC political editor Laura Kuennssberg said. One shadow cabinet member told the BBC: "I imagine that there'll be a leadership election and Jeremy will win. But this is a total distraction."
Iain Murray, shadow Scottish secretary and Labour's only Scottish MP, and Lillian Greenwood, who holds the shadow transport brief, are also expected to resign from the Labour front bench later on Sunday, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said.
On the sacking of Hilary Benn, a Labour source told the BBC Mr Corbyn had "lost confidence" in the shadow foreign secretary.On the sacking of Hilary Benn, a Labour source told the BBC Mr Corbyn had "lost confidence" in the shadow foreign secretary.
Newspaper reports suggested Mr Benn had been encouraging shadow ministers to resign if Mr Corbyn ignored a motion of no confidence.Newspaper reports suggested Mr Benn had been encouraging shadow ministers to resign if Mr Corbyn ignored a motion of no confidence.
Mr Benn said there was concern about Mr Corbyn's "leadership and his ability to win an election".Mr Benn said there was concern about Mr Corbyn's "leadership and his ability to win an election".
He said he had phoned the Labour leader to tell him "I had lost confidence in his ability to lead the party and he dismissed me".He said he had phoned the Labour leader to tell him "I had lost confidence in his ability to lead the party and he dismissed me".
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Benn said: "At this absolutely critical time for our country following the EU referendum result, the Labour Party needs strong and effective leadership to hold the government to account. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Benn said Mr Corbyn "is a good and decent man but he is not a leader".
He added: "At this absolutely critical time for our country following the EU referendum result, the Labour Party needs strong and effective leadership to hold the government to account.
"We don't currently have that and there is also no confidence we would be able to win a general election as long as Jeremy remains leader. And I felt it was important to say that.""We don't currently have that and there is also no confidence we would be able to win a general election as long as Jeremy remains leader. And I felt it was important to say that."
Asked if he thought Mr Corbyn should resign, he said he did but added "that is a matter for him".Asked if he thought Mr Corbyn should resign, he said he did but added "that is a matter for him".
Mr Benn also ruled out standing for the Labour leadership.Mr Benn also ruled out standing for the Labour leadership.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
We expect further shadow cabinet ministers to resign in the coming hours. The prime minister's resigned. No one knows who the next occupant of Number 10 will be. And today, some of the most senior figures in the Labour Party are trying to push their leader out, too.
Why? In essence because they felt that Jeremy Corbyn was driving with the handbrake on during the EU referendum campaign, just wasn't putting enough into it and also, and crucially, many Labour MPs think now, given that there is going to be a new prime minister soon, there is the real prospect of a general election sooner rather than later. There have been concerns about Jeremy Corbyn's performance for months and months. But it was his role, or lack of role, in the campaign to keep the UK in the EU, and his sacking of Hilary Benn in the middle of the night, that has given members of the shadow cabinet the final reasons to quit.
And they fear, in the words of one Labour MP yesterday, that if Jeremy Corbyn is leading the party at that general election that Labour will be wiped out. Several have already gone, as many as half will be gone by the end of the day, I understand.
But despite all this turbulence at Westminster that doesn't guarantee, from the perspective of MPs, that they will succeed in getting rid of him. And documents passed to the BBC suggest how Jeremy Corbyn's office sought to delay and water down the Labour Remain campaign. Sources suggest that they are evidence of "deliberate sabotage".
That's because - and this gulf within the Labour movement is still as wide now as it's ever been - loads of party members and Labour supporters think Jeremy Corbyn is brilliant. Read more from Laura here.
The Labour Party campaigned for Remain during the referendum, which saw the UK voting to leave the EU by 52% to 48% on Thursday.The Labour Party campaigned for Remain during the referendum, which saw the UK voting to leave the EU by 52% to 48% on Thursday.
But Mr Corbyn - who has been a long-standing critic of the EU and who is regarded as the most Eurosceptic Labour leader in years - was criticised by some in his party for not making the case for the EU forcefully enough.But Mr Corbyn - who has been a long-standing critic of the EU and who is regarded as the most Eurosceptic Labour leader in years - was criticised by some in his party for not making the case for the EU forcefully enough.
Hours after Mr Benn's sacking, shadow health secretary Ms Alexander, who joined Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet last year, tweeted: "It is with a heavy heart that I have this morning resigned from the shadow cabinet."Hours after Mr Benn's sacking, shadow health secretary Ms Alexander, who joined Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet last year, tweeted: "It is with a heavy heart that I have this morning resigned from the shadow cabinet."
In a letter to the Labour leader, she wrote: "Our country needs an effective opposition which can hold the government to account."In a letter to the Labour leader, she wrote: "Our country needs an effective opposition which can hold the government to account."
The letter continued: "As much as I respect you as a man of principle, I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding and I believe that if we are to form the next government, a change of leadership is essential."The letter continued: "As much as I respect you as a man of principle, I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding and I believe that if we are to form the next government, a change of leadership is essential."
Speaking on Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the party members were "sovereign" and determined who was leader.Speaking on Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the party members were "sovereign" and determined who was leader.
"Jeremy is not going anywhere and will continue on," he said."Jeremy is not going anywhere and will continue on," he said.
Mr McDonnell said he was "disappointed" at the "divisions" within the parliamentary Labour Party and the shadow cabinet but insisted the party would "come together".Mr McDonnell said he was "disappointed" at the "divisions" within the parliamentary Labour Party and the shadow cabinet but insisted the party would "come together".
"I don't think people had an awful lot of sleep since Friday. I think if we all had a day off and a good night's kip we'll be alright," he said."I don't think people had an awful lot of sleep since Friday. I think if we all had a day off and a good night's kip we'll be alright," he said.
Labour MPs Dame Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey submitted a motion of no confidence against Mr Corbyn in a letter to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) chairman John Cryer on Friday.Labour MPs Dame Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey submitted a motion of no confidence against Mr Corbyn in a letter to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) chairman John Cryer on Friday.
The motion has no formal constitutional force but calls for a discussion at the next meeting of Labour MPs on Monday. The chairman will decide whether it is debated. If accepted, a secret ballot could be held on Tuesday.The motion has no formal constitutional force but calls for a discussion at the next meeting of Labour MPs on Monday. The chairman will decide whether it is debated. If accepted, a secret ballot could be held on Tuesday.
But shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott - who describes herself as a "party loyalist" - played down the prospect of a no confidence vote. 'Alienated both sides'
She said Mr Corbyn had been elected last September with a massive mandate, and that a relatively small group of MPs had decided to pick a fight with the membership. But shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott - who describes herself as a "party loyalist" - played down the prospect of a no confidence vote, saying Mr Corbyn had been elected last September with a massive mandate.
"This vote of no confidence does not exist in the Labour Party rule book. It doesn't. It has no meaning."This vote of no confidence does not exist in the Labour Party rule book. It doesn't. It has no meaning.
"If MPs want a new leader what they have to do is find a candidate and unite behind that candidate and have a formal leadership challenge," she told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House."If MPs want a new leader what they have to do is find a candidate and unite behind that candidate and have a formal leadership challenge," she told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House.
Shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry also stood by Mr Corbyn, saying she would not be stepping down - and that she was "bewildered" by those who were.
"We should be thinking about the nation first," she told the BBC's Sunday Politics, saying this was a time for Labour to "show some leadership" and be a "centre of calm".
"Now, of all times, people think it is a good time to go for a leadership contest? I think it is extraordinary," she said.
But others in the party calling for a change of leadership include Labour MP Ivan Lewis - who is running to be Labour's candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty - who has written to Mr Corbyn calling on him to resign.
"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," Mr Lewis said.
Other MPs have spoken out against Mr Corbyn's input in Labour's EU referendum campaign, with MP Stephen Kinnock saying it "was not Labour's finest hour". Meanwhile, former Labour cabinet member Ben Bradshaw said Labour faced being "wiped out" at the next general election under Mr Corbyn.Other MPs have spoken out against Mr Corbyn's input in Labour's EU referendum campaign, with MP Stephen Kinnock saying it "was not Labour's finest hour". Meanwhile, former Labour cabinet member Ben Bradshaw said Labour faced being "wiped out" at the next general election under Mr Corbyn.
Meanwhile, former shadow chancellor Ed Balls - who lost his seat as an MP at the 2015 general election - also backed calls for a change of leader.
"The reality is, at a time when you have a big divide between urban Britain, which wanted In and heartlands and rural Britain, which wanted Out, Jeremy Corbyn has managed to alienate both sides," he told ITV's Peston on Sunday.
Did you vote for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn? How do you feel now? Do you still support him or you want to see a change in leadership? Let us know.Did you vote for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn? How do you feel now? Do you still support him or you want to see a change in leadership? Let us know.
Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukEmail us haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below