There’s more turmoil for Labour this morning as Barbara Keeley announces her resignation from Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.
Ms Keeley, Shadow Minister for Older People, Social Care and Carers, said in a letter to the Labour leader that a mass exit of MPs and fears of a lack of leadership were behind her decision to resign.
“This is a crucial time for the NHS and social care given the serious funding cuts and other issues caused by the policies of the Conservative Government, wrote the Worsley and Eccles MP.
“Following the disastrous result for the Remain campaign last Thursday, we need to present the strongest opposition we can against further Tory cuts to social care and further Tory privatisation of the NHS.
“I am deeply concerned that the current state of the party means we will not be able to mount an effective frontbench Opposition to the Tories in Parliament in future.”
Ms Keeley was appointed to Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet in September 2015, having served as a Shadow Minister in the Treasury and Department for Communities and Local Government.
41 shadow ministers have resigned their positions since Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn was sacked on Saturday 25 June.
Ms Keeley wrote: “I have appreciated the chance to serve in this role, because the issues in social care and for carers are of vital importance and you know that I care deeply about them.
“In particular, I have worked hard to ensure that carers’ issues are given the priority they deserve.
“When you were elected I respected your mandate and carried on in my role in the Shadow Treasury team.
“I then accepted the new role in the Shadow Health team.
“Our Shadow Health team, headed by Heidi Alexander, has worked very well over the last nine months.
“However, much has changed following Heidi’s resignation and I do not feel that I can serve in the new Shadow Health team.”
By contrast, Ms Keeley’s local neighbour, Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, has moved into Mr Corbyn’s stripped back team as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Mr Corbyn is facing a vote of no confidence from his own MPs in the wake of Britain voting to leave the European Union.
Party insiders report that Jeremy Corbyn will not resign as Labour leader, despite increasing pressure from his own backbenchers.
Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer implied in the wake of Brexit that a ‘coup’ would be the worst possible thing for the Labour party
