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:
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Jeremy Corbyn has written to Labour members to insist "our opponents are the Tories, not each other".
In an email, he said:
"Our country is in crisis and needs a Labour government.
Our opponents are the Tories, not each other, and it's disappointing that a small group of 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 credible alternative, keeping all options on the table, including a public vote to stop a disastrous 'no deal' Brexit.
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. For those millions the only solution is a Labour government that will invest in and transform our country.
That's why we must be united – not for ourselves but to deliver a Labour government."
Justin Tomlinson, Conservative MP for North Swindon, says Honda's decision to close its plant in the town is a response to "global trends" and not Brexit.
Tom Watson, Labour's deputy leader, has released a pretty astonishing video statement on today's events.
He expresses "deep sadness" at the seven MPs resigning and says he thinks they have reached a "premature conclusion".
However, he continues:
"But this is a moment for regret and reflection, not for a mood of anger or a tone of triumph. The tragedy of the hard left is that they can be too easily tempted into the language of heresy and treachery. Betrayal narratives and shouting insults at the departed might make some feel better briefly but it does nothing to address the reasons that good colleagues might want to leave."
On antisemitism and Luciana Berger's decision to quit, he says:
"I'm sad to say that a virulent form of identity politics has seized the Labour Party, which today took its first casualty...The say antisemitism is a light sleeper. This is certainly a wake up call for the Labour Party."
He adds:
"I love this party, but sometimes I no longer recognise it, and that is why I do not regard those who resigned today as traitors."
More from that astonishing Tom Watson statement.
In comments that will infuriate many in Labour, he said:
"I fear that, unless we change, we may see more days like this...We are losing members and now losing MPs...This country faces some troubling questions and we've yet to convince the nation that we have the answers."
He seemed to suggest he would begin developing a rival policy programme to that of Jeremy Corbyn. He said Labour's mainstream has always been "social democratic and democratic socialist" and added: "That is why in the coming weeks and months I'll be working with Labour MPs to develop policies within that tradition."
He also called for a reshuffle of the shadow cabinet, saying:
"The frontbench once again needs to reflect the balance of opinion in the Parliamentary Labour Party. We need to broaden out so all members of our broad church feel welcome in our congregation."
British nationals who travelled to join Isis "hate our country" and should have their British citizenship revoked if the law allows, Sajid Javid has told MPs.
Speaking in the Commons, the home secretary said that 100 dual nationals have already lost their UK citizenship.
He was responding to an urgent question about Shamima Begum, who fled the country to join Isis in 2015, when she was 15, and said last week that she wants to return to the UK.
Referring to around 900 people who left the UK to join Isis, Mr Javid said:
"Whatever role they took in the so-called caliphate, they all supported a terrorist organisation and in doing so they have shown they hate our country and the values we stand for."
"Now this so-called caliphate is crumbling, some of them want to return and I have been very clear where I can and where any threat remains I will not hesitate to prevent this.
"The powers available to me include banning non-British people from this country and stripping dangerous dual nationals of their British citizenship. Over 100 people have already been deprived in this way.
"But we must, of course, observe international law and we cannot do this if it would leave someone stateless - so where individuals do manage to return they will be questioned, investigated and potentially prosecuted."
Angela Smith, one of the MPs who resigned from Labour this morning, has apologised after appearing to refer to BAME people as having a "funny tinge".
The MP was criticised for the comment, made on BBC's Politics Live earlier today.
Now, in a video posted on social media, she said she was "very sorry" for having "misspoke" and for any offence caused. She said:
"I am very sorry about any offence caused and I am very upset that I misspoke so badly.
"It is not what I am. I am committed to fighting racism wherever I find it in our society."
Tom Watson issues urgent appeal to Jeremy Corbyn after MPs resign
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