UK: Labour party in turmoil as top officials resign

LONDON

Seven Shadow cabinet members have filed their resignations in an attempt to pressure the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to step down on Sunday.

U.K. Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander became the first one to step down on Sunday, citing the lack of leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

"As much as I respect you as a man of principle, I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding," she said in a letter to the Labour party leader, which she posted on her Twitter account.

Her resignation came after Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn was sacked by the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

In a statement released in the very early hours of Sunday morning, Benn said: "There is no confidence to win the next election if Jeremy continues as leader."

“It has now become clear that there is widespread concern among Labour MPs and in the shadow cabinet about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of our party,” Benn said in his statement. “In a phone call I told him for this reasons I lost my confidence in his ability to lead the party and then he dismissed me from the Shadow cabinet.”

According to the British media, in total so far, seven shadow cabinet members have resigned on Sunday. These members include Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Seema Malhotra, Shadow Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Shadow Transport Secretary Lilian Greenwood, Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration Gloria de Piero and Shadow Environment Secretary Kerry McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham did not hesitate to show his support in a series of tweets for the Labour leader. “I have never taken part in a coup against any Leader of the Labour Party and I am not going to start now.” Burnham tweeted.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made it clear to all his critics Saturday that he was here to stay as head of the party and would not step down following his alleged shortcomings in preventing the Brexit vote.

The Labour leader faces a challenging week following a motion of no-confidence filed by two senior MPs, Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey, from his party Friday. The motion is expected to lead the discussions within the party Monday, before a secret ballot of MPs is held Tuesday.