LABOUR leader, Jeremy Corbyn has said he will stand in any new leadership election, and reshape his shadow cabinet over the next 24 hours.He urged people “to come together to heal the divisions” after the EU vote.

Shadow Commons Leader, Chris Bryant is the latest in a string of Labour shadow Cabinet members to resign in protest at Mr Corbyn’s leadership over the EU referendum – and more are expected.

Mr Corbyn said he regretted those resignations.

But he warned: “Those who want to change Labour’s leadership will have to stand in a democratic election, in which I will be a candidate.”

He also said he had been elected as leader with “an overwhelming mandate for a different kind of politics”.

“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,” he added.

“Neither wing of the Tory Government has an exit plan. Labour will now ensure that our reform agenda is at the heart of the negotiations that lie ahead. That includes the freedom to shape our economy for the future and the necessity of protecting social and employment rights.

“One clear message from last Thursday’s vote is that millions of people feel shut out of a political and economic system that has let them down and scarred our country with grotesque levels of inequality.”

‘DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED’
His comments came after he sacked Shadow Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn, who told Mr Corbyn he had lost confidence in him.

Earlier, a party spokesman said Mr Corbyn – who faces a no confidence vote over a “lacklustre” EU campaign – “won’t be resigning”.

Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell and shadow cabinet members Andy Burnham, Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry have given Mr Corbyn their support despite the resignations.

Deputy Labour Leader, Tom Watson has said he is “deeply disappointed” that Mr Benn had been sacked and “equally saddened” by the shadow cabinet resignations.

He said his focus was to “hold the Labour Party together in very turbulent times” and that he would meet Mr Corbyn on Monday to discuss the “way forward”.

The series of shadow cabinet walkouts began on Sunday morning, hours after Mr Benn was sacked by the Labour leader.

Karl Turner, the Shadow Attorney General, also resigned. His is not a shadow cabinet post, but he attends meetings.

The Labour Party campaigned to remain during the referendum, which saw the UK voting to leave the EU by 52 per cent to 48 per cent on Thursday.

But Mr Corbyn – who has been a long-standing critic of the EU and who is regarded as the most Eurosceptic Labour leader in years – has been accused by some in his party of not making the case for the EU forcefully enough.

As a result, a motion of no confidence against Mr Corbyn has been submitted by Labour MPs, Dame Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey – and it is expected to be considered at the next meeting of Labour MPs on Monday. A secret ballot could be held the following day.

‘NOT A LEADER’
Meanwhile, a number of senior trade unionists on Labour’s ruling national executive committee rallied in support of Mr Corbyn – including United Leader, Len McCluskey and Dave Ward of the Communication Workers Union.

And about 180,000 people have signed an online petition backing the Labour leader, who was elected last September in a landslide victory.

Speaking on Sunday’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Benn – who has ruled out any Labour leadership bid – said Mr Corbyn was “a good and decent man but he is not a leader”.

“At this absolutely critical time for our country following the EU referendum result, the Labour Party needs strong and effective leadership to hold the Government to account.

“We don’t currently have that and there is also no confidence we would be able to win a general election as long as Jeremy remains leader. And I felt it was important to say that,” he added.

Hours after Mr Benn’s sacking, Ms Alexander, who joined Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet last year, tweeted that she had resigned “with a heavy heart”.

In a letter to the Labour Leader, she said she respected him “as a man of principle” but said “I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding and I believe that if we are to form the next Government, a change of leadership is essential”.

Elsewhere, Ms Powell said in her resignation letter to Mr Corbyn: “It is increasingly clear that your position is untenable and that you are unable to command the support of the shadow cabinet, the Parliamentary Labour Party and, most importantly, the country.”

But Mr McDonnell, speaking on Radio 5 live’s Pienaar’s Politics, was defiant, saying: “Jeremy is not going anywhere and will continue on.” (BBC)