Jeremy Corbyn critic Jamie Reed QUITS as an MP as he thinks he can make more impact with job in nuclear industry
The MP for Copeland in West Cumbria previously accused Jeremy Corbyn of "poisoning the party" but says his decision to stand down is nothing to do with him
A LABOUR MP who accused Jeremy Corbyn of “poisoning” the party is stepping down – triggering a by-election crisis.
Jamie Reed, the MP for Copeland in Cumbria, resigned to take up a job with Sellafield, describing the move as "the hardest decision of my life".
And bookies last night immediately installed the Tories favourite to pinch the seat.
A Tory victory would mark the first time a standing Government has gained a seat from the opposition mid-Parliament since 1982.
Widely respected Mr Reed will leave on February 1 – meaning a by-election could take place in a matter of weeks.
Copeland backed a Brexit by two-to-one.
And while Labour has held the seat since its formation in 1983, Labour’s majority was slashed to 2,500 in the 2015 General Election.
The MP has spent months being critical of Mr Corbyn's leadership, urging him to stand down after the EU referendum. In a scathing letter in June, Mr Reed accused the leader of "poisoning" the party and asked him to "muster the necessary dignity" to step down.
In August he said that "catastrophic defeat for the Labour party is assured under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn" and that he threatened the "entire existence" of the party.
Citing his "shameful" and "ugly" views on internationalism on Nato, he slammed Mr Corbyn for "driving millions of traditional Labour voters away".
"He should give up, go home and go away," Mr Reed wrote.
Mr Reed resigned as a health minister on the shadow front bench as soon as the leftie leader was first elected in 2015.
"This decision has got absolutely nothing to do with Jeremy Corbyn,"
"On a personal level I’ve got a very cordial relationship," Mr Reed said.
"One of the reasons that I am moving on is because I think there’s a better way of doing that [serving his community] right now than to remain as a member of parliament."
Sources have claimed Tory MPs were set to campaign in the Lake District constituency – which includes the town of Whitehaven - on Friday.
Ed Balls – the former Shadow Chancellor and Strictly star – refused yesterday to respond to demands whether he would seek to stand. He had earlier said “never say never” when quizzed over a return to politics.
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall was branded a “coward” after saying he would not run – despite claims his party will boot Labour out of the North of England.
Mr Reed also said that family reasons had played a part in his decision to stand down, saying it was "very difficult being a long-distance dad".
"The decision that I’m making is the hardest one I’ve ever made but it’s undoubtedly the best thing for me to do for my family,” he said.
In his resignation latter he said it was an "important role that will build upon my work in Parliament... and allow me to continue to help the community and industry of West Cumbria to meet the challenges of the future."
He added that "the Labour party remains the greatest movement for social and economic progress we have ever seen or are likely to see" and called for a "Brexit that works for communities like Copeland".
In his letter to Mr Corbyn, the MP wished him "every success in your endeavours to become our next Labour Prime Minister".
The MP takes on the new role of head of development and community relations at Sellafield on February 1.
John Woodcock, MP for nearby Barrow, told the Sun: “We’ll be fine.
“This has been a Labour area since the 1930s, we are mid-term Tory Government which has no strategy to deliver Brexit.
“There is a real NHS crisis and Jeremy has made it clear the NHS is his No.1 campaign priority. There could not have been a more fitting seat to take the message out into a by-election.”
One Labour backbencher said on Wednesday night that Mr Reed’s resignation was unlikely to be the last given the party’s opposition to their own leader.
The MP said: “It’s only the start. Plenty of other MPs know Corbyn is walking the Labour party off the edge of a cliff.
“Lots of people are thinking what else to do in life. Better to go as soon as possible than wait until there are dozens of other ex-Labour MPs looking for work once we all lose out seats.”
The MP added: “Corbyn has made the atmosphere in the party thoroughly unpleasant and sectarian.”
Jeremy Corbyn has already survived one leadership challenge – defeating leftie Owen Smith this summer.
Mr Reed’s Copeland seat is due to disappear by 2020 under the boundary review. In a statement Jeremy Corbyn said he was “sorry to hear” that Jamie Reed was standing down.
Taking to Twitter, ‘moderate’ Wes Streeting said: “We’re ‘election ready’, building a movement and going for Government.
“So presumably we’re aiming for a bigger Labour majority in Copeland!” One Labour supporter replied:
“Sarcasm. A surefire way of putting cross in boxes come election time”.