Floundering Jeremy Corbyn on the ropes after dozens of his own MPs beg him to quit as Labour leader
He is refusing to stand down despite fears the post-Brexit crisis could split the party for good
FLOUNDERING Jeremy Corbyn launched a public attack on his own MPs last night ahead of a humiliating no confidence vote.
The Labour leader blasted them for “indulging” in their rebellion as he refused to quit in the face of a mass frontbench walkout.
More than 30 shadow ministers and aides resigned and called for their leader’s head yesterday, joining 12 departures on Sunday.
And at a meeting of MPs and peers last night around 20 pleaded for him to stand down amid fears the crisis could split the party.
Mr Corbyn told the meeting he would not quit, saying he has a mandate from ordinary members and that he would continue to work towards the 2020 general election.
But shortly afterwards shadow schools minister Nic Dakin also stood down, blasting a “further failure of leadership”.
Backbencher John Woodcock had a stand-up row with Mr Corbyn’s spokesman Kevin Slocombe after being accused of briefing against the party leader.
Mr Corbyn risked further fury as he marched from the meeting to speak to a rally outside Parliament organised by far-left supporters’ group Momentum — which had been chanting for MPs to be deselected.
He told the cheering crowd: “Don’t let those people who wish us ill divide us.”
Visibly upset Labour MPs last night described the meeting as “pretty bloody” and a “pressure cooker”.
Chris Bryant, who quit as shadow Commons leader earlier in the day, said afterwards: “This is a battle for the soul of the Labour Party.”
But a spokesman for Mr Corbyn insisted: “He is not going to concede to a corridor coup.”
Earlier the leftie leader used a House of Commons statement on the EU referendum result to attack the “internal factional manoeuvring”.
But he sparked uproar on the Labour benches as MPs screamed at him to resign.
related stories
With his authority hanging by a thread, a secret ballot of the 229 Labour MPs will be held today, which could see less than 50 give him their backing.
MPs are desperate to oust Mr Corbyn in case a snap general election is called.
They fear he is leading them to electoral disaster after millions of Labour voters ignored the party’s pro-EU position and backed Brexit.
As part of the mass walkout yesterday Labour’s most senior woman, Angela Eagle, broke down in tears as she appealed for Mr Corbyn to stop damaging “the party we both love”.
Ms Eagle, who refused to rule out a leadership bid, also blamed his “half-hearted ambivalence” towards the EU for contributing to Remain’s defeat.
And deputy leader Tom Watson told his boss he had lost authority and would face a bruising leadership challenge unless he stood down.
Mr Corbyn attempted to carry on business as usual by appointing a string of hard-left loyalists as shadow cabinet replacements including anti-Trident Clive Lewis at defence.
But Mr Lewis, who accepted the post on Sunday night, failed to appear for Defence Questions in the Commons yesterday as he was still making his way back from the Glastonbury Festival.
Conservative Defence Secretary Michael Fallon mocked: “I think he is awol on his first parade.”
Emily Thornberry, switched from defence to the post of shadow foreign secretary, took charge for the debate.
Disgruntled MPs are now threatening to boycott Prime Minister’s Questions tomorrow if Mr Corbyn insists on trying to cling on.
There were also signs key support among union leaders may be faltering, as Unison boss Dave Prentis yesterday said that Labour needed “strong and united leadership”.
He said Mr Corbyn was still supported by the union as members had backed him, but the issue could be discussed at a conference of Labour-supporting Unison members next week.
A 400-strong group of youth wing Young Labour also called on Mr Corbyn to resign, while several other grassroots groups urged him to go.
But some were prepared to defend their leader.
In the Commons veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner appeared to flash a V-sign at rebels.