LONDON—Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing an open revolt as political turmoil continues to grip Britain after the country voted to leave the European Union.
The main opposition party was in turmoil Sunday with two members of the shadow cabinet leaving their posts in a direct challenge to Corbyn.
Corbyn first fired shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn after Benn told Corbyn he had lost confidence in Corbyn’s ability to lead the party.
“There is no confidence that we will be able to win a general election as long as Jeremy remains the leader,” Benn told the BBC’s flagship breakfast show. “He’s a good and decent man, but he is not a leader. And that’s a problem.”
Benn’s dismissal was followed by the resignation of Labour health spokeswoman Heidi Alexander, who released a letter saying a change of leadership was needed.
“Those who will be hit hardest by the economic shock associated with the vote to leave the EU need a strong opposition, as do those communities who fear rising levels of intolerance, hatred and division,” she wrote.
However, Corbyn’s allies said he would remain in his post.
Labour legislator and Corbyn backer Diane Abbott said Sunday morning Corbyn would not step down despite the mounting opposition, adding he is still backed by party members.
The vote to quit the EU was widely seen as a stinging rejection of left-wing Labour, with many traditional Labour districts voting in defiance of the party leadership’s campaign to stay in the bloc.
