The Chamberlain News

Corbyn issues ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ pledge and vows to fight on

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn signalled tonight that he has no intention of standing down even if he is challenged in an emergency leadership contest.

In a letter to every party member, Mr Corbyn said Labour needed to stand together because the Government was “in disarray” following the EU referendum result.

He also reminded the membership he was elected leader less than a year ago with an overwhelming majority in order to “deliver a new kind of politics”.

It is widely expected that Angela Eagle, who quit Labour’s front bench this week, will announce tomorrow that she is to stand against Mr Corbyn in a leadership election.

More than 50 MPs are ready to sign the letter needed to trigger a contest.

Mr Corbyn continues to fight for his political life at the end of a week which saw more than half of his cabinet and front bench team quit, claiming they had no confidence in him and that Labour could not win a General Election under his leadership.

Sources close to Ms Eagle suggested she had delayed confirming her bid today “to give Jeremy one last chance to resign with dignity”.

The full text of Mr Corbyn’s letter to members:

United we stand, divided we fall is one of the oldest and truest slogans of the Labour movement.

After last week’s referendum, our country faces major challenges. Risks to the economy and living standards are growing. The public is split.

The Government is in disarray. Ministers have made it clear they have no exit plan, but are determined to make working people pay with a new round of cuts and tax rises.

Labour has the responsibility to give a lead where the Government will not. We need to bring people together, hold the Government to account, oppose austerity and set out a path to exit that will protect jobs and incomes.

To do that we need to stand together. Since I was elected leader of our party nine months ago, we have repeatedly defeated the Government over its attacks on living standards.

Last month, Labour become the largest party in the local elections. In Thursday’s referendum, a narrow majority voted to leave, but two thirds of Labour supporters backed our call for a Remain vote.

I was elected leader of our party, for a new kind of politics, by 60 per cent of Labour members and supporters. The need for that different approach now is greater than ever.

Our people need Labour Party members, trade unionists and MPs to unite. As leader it is my continued commitment to dedicate our party’s activity to that goal.