Independent group: Labour MPs fear more will quit as emotions run high at party meeting
John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry attend heated PLP gathering
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Your support makes all the difference.Emotions ran high at the Parliamentary Labour Party's weekly meeting as MPs reeled from the resignation of seven of their colleagues.
Ian Austin - a prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyn - told journalists gathered outside that he believed more people are considering taking the same course of action as those who splintered from the party on Monday morning at a surprise press conference.
Another politician described the meeting as a "complete and utter waste of time".
Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes, Ann Coffey, Angela Smith and Chuka Umunna have all resigned the whip, in what is being seen as the most significant split in British politics since the breakaway of the Social Democratic Party in the 1980s.
The parliamentarians will now sit as an “Independent Group” as they appeal to MPs from all parties to “leave the old tribal politics behind".
During the party meeting MPs Ruth Smeeth and Stella Creasy both said they would remain in the organisation, but Ms Smeeth was said to be visibly upset as she addressed colleagues during a short speech.
Some of Labour's top team attended the meeting including the shadow chancellor John McDonnell and the shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.
The Labour leader himself was not present at the event as he was attending a funeral outside of London, a source told The Independent.
Tom Watson earlier warned Jeremy Corbyn that more Labour MPs will quit the party unless he agrees to changes.
Labour’s deputy leader spoke out after seven MPs announced their immediate resignations from the party, hitting out at Mr Corbyn’s leadership and policies on Brexit and antisemitism.
Ms Berger said in a speech on Monday that Labour had become “institutionally antisemitic” and added: ”I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation.”
There were some early signs on Monday evening that The Independent Group might attract support from disenfranchised Conservatives to the new centre-ground anti-Brexit grouping in the chamber.
If you would like to see how the day's events unfolded live please see what was our live coverage below:
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer tweeted a picture of himself and Luciana Berger, adding: "Particularly sad for me is the treatment my friend has endured. She fought hard and long for a UK Labour Party that a previously political agnostic like me - even though I disagreed with on some points, respected deeply.
"Her experience has shamed this Nation - us for not being strong enough to defeat this Labour leadership wholeheartedly and consign to the dustbin of history in 2017; and of course the UK Labour leadership itself which has a deep and sinister side many who vote for it seem wilfully blind to."
Angela Smith has apologised after her gaffe during a discussion about race this morning, in which she appeared to describe BAME people as having a "funny tinge".
Tory MP for Grantham and Stamford, Nick Boles, said in response to the split: "They're all good people and I understand completely why they felt driven to leave Labour.
"I have not spoken with any of them about their plans and am totally focused on working with MPs of all parties to stop a no-deal Brexit on March 29."
Sadiq Khan has said he is "desperately sad" about the Labour split, but has confirmed he will stand for re-election as a party candidate in 2020.
The mayor of London said: "This is a desperately sad day. These seven MPs are all friends of mine. I served alongside them in Parliament.
"I'm proud to serve as Labour's Mayor of London and will stand as Labour's candidate at the next mayoral election."
Speaking to the Press Association Monday before MPs confirmed the split, Mr Khan blamed the Conservative Party for "the chaotic Brexit process", but admitted Labour has been "shockingly poor" at dealing with antisemitism.
Mr Khan added: "We know that there are members of the Labour Party who have joined who have clearly anti-Semitic views, or have been in our party for some time and have clearly anti-Semitic views, the Labour Party hasn't acted swiftly enough to kick them out."
But, he said he believes the Labour divide will make it more difficult for the party to be elected to govern.
Mr Khan said: "History tells us that when the Labour Party splits, it leads to the Conservative Party winning the next election and the one after that and the one after that.
"What people I care about need is a Labour government.
"One thing that's going to make that more difficult is Labour splits."
Here are some updates from our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn, who is at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting in Westminster.
Jeremy Corbyn did not attend tonight's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party as he was attending a funeral, according to our political correspondent.
There are early signs this evening that the Independent Group may attract support from disenfranchised Conservatives.
Read more here:
Emotions were running high at the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) held in the corridors of Westminster, political correspondent Ashley Cowburn writes.
Following the resignation of seven Labour MPs - the biggest schism in the party since the formation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1980s - one MP described the meeting as a "complete and utter waste of time".
Ian Austin - a prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyn - told journalists gathered outside that he believed more people are considering taking the same course of action as those who splintered from the party on Monday morning at a surprise press conference.
During the meeting the Labour MPs Ruth Smeeth and Stella Creasy both said they would remain in the party, but Ms Smeeth was said to be visibly upset as she addressed colleagues during a short speech.
Some of Labour's top team attended the meeting including the shadow chancellor John McDonnell and the shadow foreign secretary.
Emily Thornberry.
The Labour leader himself was not present at the event as he was attending a funeral outside of London, a source told The Independent.
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