Labour leader ignores revolt

London, June 27 

Unfazed by an attempted coup within his shadow cabinet post Brexit, Britain's Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn today started replacing ministers who have resigned over his "lacklustre" handling of the EU referendum campaign.

The number of his top team who have stepped down so far continued to rise, including Indian-origin shadow minister to the Treasury Seema Malhotra.

Corbyn had lost 12 of his shadow cabinet yesterday and at least eight more today, with most criticising his performance in the EU referendum, which resulted in Brexit.

Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, held a meeting with Corbyn to warn him that he has "no authority" among party MPs and faces a serious leadership challenge as the figure of total party resignations including junior ministers hit around 28 MPs.

But Corbyn had earlier said in a statement that while he regretted the resignations, he was determined to stand again if any new leadership election is forced.

“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,” he said.

The latest frontbench resignations came today, by shadow business secretary Angela Eagle, Maria Eagle (defence) Lisa Nandy (energy), Owen Smith (work and pensions), shadow foreign minister Diana Johnson, shadow civil society minister Anna Turley, shadow defence minister Toby Perkins and Wayne David, shadow Cabinet Office, Scotland and justice minister.

Stephen Kinnock, a parliamentary aide to shadow business secretary Angela Eagle, has also quit, citing Jeremy Corbyn's "half-hearted and lacklustre role" in the EU campaign.

The motion of no confidence in Corbyn was submitted by Labour MPs Dame Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey and a secret ballot could be held on Tuesday.

Corbyn has previously warned: "Those who want to change Labour's leadership will have to stand in a democratic election, in which I will be a candidate."

The mass resignations in the party were triggered by the sacking of shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn in the early hours of yesterday, after he told Corbyn he had lost confidence in him.

Former shadow leader of the Commons Chris Bryant, who was among those to resign, warned Corbyn that he risks going down in history as "the man who broke the Labour Party".

The Labour Party campaigned for Remain during the referendum. — PTI