A motion of no confidence in Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn has been passed by the party’s MPs. The 172-40 vote, which is not binding, follows resignations from the shadow cabinet and calls on Corbyn to quit.
Corbyn said the ballot had “no constitutional legitimacy” and said he would not “betray” the members who voted for him by resigning. The leader’s allies have told his critics to trigger a formal leadership contest if they want to challenge him, BBC reported.
Opponents of Corbyn are meeting to decide what to do next and whether to rally round a single candidate to put up against him, with names in the frame including former frontbenchers Angela Eagle and Yvette Cooper. They still hoped Corbyn would step down voluntarily.
As Corbyn’s future was being fought over, thousands of demonstrators, many of them young people, gathered outside parliament to show their support for the EU and to protest at the outcome of the Brexit vote.
The result of Tuesday’s no-confidence ballot, in which there were four abstentions, has led to further resignations from Labor’s frontbench and more calls for Corbyn to make way.
Labor’s leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale, suggested Corbyn’s position was untenable, telling the BBC: “If I had lost the support of 80% of my MSPs, I could not do my job.”
Labor MP and Corbyn critic Wes Streeting said the vote was “unprecedented”, adding: “I think Jeremy just has to accept now that his leadership is untenable.”
But following the result, the leader issued a statement saying the government was “in disarray” following the vote to leave the EU, adding: “Labor has the responsibility to give a lead where the government will not.”
He added: “I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labor members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning. Today’s vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy.
“We are a democratic party, with a clear constitution. Our people need Labor Party members, trade unionists and MPs to unite behind my leadership at a critical time for our country.”
