Jeremy Corbyn’s office ‘working against rest of party’ in referendum campaign

Ms. Turley was one of at least five members of his team to quit on a tumultuous morning for Mr. Corbyn, who was elected as party leader a year ago on a surprise wave of enthusiasm for his left-wing agenda and promise of a new approach to politics.

‘The only way that the leadership of the party will change will be if the members decide that’.

Welsh Labour Grassroots (WLG) – the sister organisation of the pro-Corbyn Momentum group – has written to all the Labour MPs from Wales.

A group that wants Jeremy Corbyn to remain in place as Labour leader has warned Wales’ Labour MPs that they will not “easily be forgiven” if they put their own interests before the party’s.

The lifelong Labour tribalist, who helped steer the party to three successive general election victories, added that he would have to “think long and hard” about even voting Labour if Corbyn is leader at the time of the next election, which could come within months.

The sensational fallout follows claims he deliberately watered down his public opposition to Brexit, including refusing to work with David Cameron for the “Remain” side and watering down a series of pro-EU speeches before last Thursday’s vote.

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.

Deputy party leader Tom Watson – who spent much of the weekend at Glastonbury before rushing back to London – is said to have told Mr Corbyn a leadership challenge is imminent.

Ms Powell said: “I don’t think it’s sufficient to say “I have the support of the members”.

If the entreaties of his fellow politicians, who are expected to overwhelmingly back a no confidence motion in him tomorrow, will not sway Mr Corbyn to stand down, could an alternative leader run against him?

Last night he issued a statment saying: “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”.

23 of the Labour frontbench have resigned since Saturday night, which was triggered by Corbyn’s decision to sack Hillary Benn. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would “consider” advising the Scottish Parliament to try to use its power to prevent Britain from actually leaving the EU.

Nearly all of the shadow cabinet ministers who resigned received rousing receptions from backbenchers during the debate, including Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, whose replacement will have to come from a non-Scottish constituency or the House of Lords.

I will certainly do this, as I hope will the leader’s office.

“We have discussed the need to prepare for the negotiations and in particular the fact that the British government will not be triggering Article 50 at this stage”, he said.