Independent group: Labour MPs fear more will quit as emotions run high at party meeting
John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry attend heated PLP gathering
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Your support makes all the difference.Emotions ran high at the Parliamentary Labour Party's weekly meeting as MPs reeled from the resignation of seven of their colleagues.
Ian Austin - a prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyn - told journalists gathered outside that he believed more people are considering taking the same course of action as those who splintered from the party on Monday morning at a surprise press conference.
Another politician described the meeting as a "complete and utter waste of time".
Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes, Ann Coffey, Angela Smith and Chuka Umunna have all resigned the whip, in what is being seen as the most significant split in British politics since the breakaway of the Social Democratic Party in the 1980s.
The parliamentarians will now sit as an “Independent Group” as they appeal to MPs from all parties to “leave the old tribal politics behind".
During the party meeting MPs Ruth Smeeth and Stella Creasy both said they would remain in the organisation, but Ms Smeeth was said to be visibly upset as she addressed colleagues during a short speech.
Some of Labour's top team attended the meeting including the shadow chancellor John McDonnell and the shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.
The Labour leader himself was not present at the event as he was attending a funeral outside of London, a source told The Independent.
Tom Watson earlier warned Jeremy Corbyn that more Labour MPs will quit the party unless he agrees to changes.
Labour’s deputy leader spoke out after seven MPs announced their immediate resignations from the party, hitting out at Mr Corbyn’s leadership and policies on Brexit and antisemitism.
Ms Berger said in a speech on Monday that Labour had become “institutionally antisemitic” and added: ”I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation.”
There were some early signs on Monday evening that The Independent Group might attract support from disenfranchised Conservatives to the new centre-ground anti-Brexit grouping in the chamber.
If you would like to see how the day's events unfolded live please see what was our live coverage below:
Chris Leslie, MP for Nottingham East, says the Labour Party has been "hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left".
He says "British politics is now well and truly broken" and that he is unable to advocate a government led by Jeremy Corbyn.
He says MPs have a duty to say publicly "how irresponsible it would be to allow this leader of the opposition to take the office of prime minister of the United Kingdom".
Next up is Angela Smith, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge.
She says she comes from a staunchly Labour family that believed in helping people to get on.
She says:
“Most people are like my family. They do not want to be patronised by left wing intellectuals who think that being poor and working class is a state of grace."
Gavin Shuker, MP for Luton South, is now speaking.
He says the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn has "turned its back on the British public - their hopes and ambitions".
Ann Coffey, the Stockport MP, is next up.
She says Labour "is no longer a broad church - any criticism of the leadership is responded to with abuse and accusations of treachery".
She says antisemitism in Labour is "rife" and that Jeremy Corbyn "has succeeded in changing this party beyond recognition"
She finishes by saying:
"Loyalty cannot be an end in itself, so I leave the party with great sadness but in hope that we, as a independent group, can start to change a political system in which people feel they have no voice."
Mike Gapes, MP for Ilford South, makes perhaps the hardest hitting statement so far.
He says Labour is now a "racist, antisemitic party" and adds:
"I'm furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit, which will cause great economic, social and political damage to our country. Jeremy Corbyn and those around him are on the wrong side on so many international issues, from Russia to Syria to Venezuela. A Corbyn Labour government would threaten our national security and international alliances."
Speaking next, Streatham MP Chuka Umunna says the current political parties have failed.
He insists it does not have to be like this, saying:
"When our democracy is failing, the British people have overcome the hurdles in history to build a better future".
He reaches out to encourage other MPs to join them, including those from other parties.
He says:
"We invite you to leave your parties and help us forge a new consensus on a way forward for Britain."
Responding to seven MPs leaving his party, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says:
"I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.
“Labour won people over on a programme for the many not the few – redistributing wealth and power, taking vital resources into public ownership, investing in every region and nation, and tackling climate change.
“The Conservative government is bungling Brexit, while Labour has set out a unifying and credible alternative plan. When millions are facing the misery of Universal Credit, rising crime, homelessness and poverty, now more than ever is the time to bring people together to build a better future for us all."
During the Q&A, the MPs are refusing to be drawn on how many other Labour MPs could quit to join them.
Chuka Umunna says they are clear that "people cannot be saddled with this appalling choice of incompetence"
He says this is not a Westminster-led move and they want the public to get involved to help shape an alternative.
MPs from other parties are also considering quitting, he says.
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