Jeremy Corbyn’s enemies in the Labour party had hoped that the leader would do the ‘decent thing’ and stand down after the day-long programme of frontbench resignations had made it clear that he will not be able to run an effective opposition. But this evening he has made it clear that he doesn’t agree with this assessment of the state of his frontbench, releasing a statement that says he will carry out a reshuffle tomorrow, and fight on.
You can read the full statement below. What it means is that the coup against the Labour leader will have to be brutal and will likely involve a motion of no confidence being passed by the Parliamentary Labour Party. What happens next depends on who you listen to. Team Corbyn have had legal advice saying he will automatically be on the ballot paper in the new leadership contest, but Labour HQ has had advice saying he will not. Rebels see keeping him off that paper as their number one challenge, but if he is to be on it, then their next challenge is ensuring that the membership really has changed its mind from when it elected Corbyn with a huge mandate last autumn. MPs are hopeful that members have changed their mind, but given many Labour MPs were shocked by the way the membership responded to the last leadership contest, they could feasibly be proved wrong again.
Corbyn’s statement in full:
‘Our country faces a huge challenge following Thursday’s vote to leave the European Union. And the British people have a right to know how their elected leaders are going to respond.
‘We need to come together to heal the divisions exposed by the vote. We have to respect the decision that has been made, hold the government to democratic account over its response, and ensure that working people don’t pay the price of exit.
‘Neither wing of the Tory government has an exit plan. Labour will now ensure that our reform agenda is at the heart of the negotiations that lie ahead. That includes the freedom to shape our economy for the future and the necessity of protecting social and employment rights.
‘One clear message from last Thursday’s vote is that millions of people feel shut out of a political and economic system that has let them down and scarred our country with grotesque levels of inequality.
‘I was elected by hundreds of thousands of Labour Party members and supporters with an overwhelming mandate for a different kind of politics.
‘I regret there have been resignations today from my shadow cabinet. But I am not going to betray the trust of those who voted for me – or the millions of supporters across the country who need Labour to represent them.
‘Those who want to change Labour’s leadership will have to stand in a democratic election, in which I will be a candidate.
‘Over the next 24 hours I will reshape my shadow cabinet and announce a new leadership team to take forward Labour’s campaign for a fairer Britain – and to get the best deal with Europe for our people.’
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