Jeremy Corbyn rally: Thousands to attend Parliament Square protest in support of Labour leader amid crisis

Solidarity: Supporters are set to protest in Mr Corbyn remaining as Labour leader
Natasha Quarmby/REX
Jamie Bullen27 June 2016
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Thousands of people are set to march on Parliament Square tonight in support of Jeremy Corbyn after the Labour party was plunged into civil war over the weekend.

More than 3,000 supporters have pledged to attend the demonstration, called #KeepCorbyn, Build our movement, while a further 6,000 have declared an interest in going.

The event was posted on Facebook by left-wing group Momentum hours after 12 members of Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet left their posts on a day his leadership descended into a full blown crisis.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell as well as MPs Diane Abbott and Rebecca Long-Bailey are due to speak in support of the under fire Labour leader at the protest, which starts at 6pm.

A message on a Facebook page for the protest reads: “The future is uncertain. We face a Tory Brexit, Cameron has resigned and we are likely to have a general election in the coming months with the potential of Britain lurching yet further to the right.

Under fire: Jeremy Corbyn is set to receive the support of thousands of people at a protest in Parliament Square on Monday
PA

“A small number of Labour MPs are using this as an opportunity to oust Jeremy, disrespect the Labour membership who elected him and disregard our movement for a new kind of politics.

“We cannot let this undemocratic behaviour succeed.”

Messages of support have also been posted from those hoping to attend the protest while others called on Mr Corbyn to stand aside.

Labour senior MPs' resignations (and one sacking)

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Malcolm Barnes posted: “Britain desperately needs a party that can lead, and unite the people.

“A party that can stand united before the British public and work tirelessly as statesmen to ensure that the British public are confident that someone is looking out for them.”

While Ali Alisadeh wrote: "He is a man with principle, he is a man ,who stand for humanities,peace,women rights, human rights, he has our mandate for leading Labour Party for next election.”

But Ben Dilks said: “Utterly embarrassing. Resign.”

On Sunday, 11 ministers resigned in protest at Mr Corbyn’s leadership hours after Hilary Benn was sacked as shadow foreign secretary amid claims he was plotting to challenge the leader.

But despite the series of resignations, Mr Corbyn issued a defiant statement late in the evening in which he said those who wanted to challenge his leadership would have to contest an election with him.

He said: “I regret there have been resignations today from my shadow cabinet. But 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 also announced he was looking to reshape his shadow cabinet on Monday.

MPs are also today preparing to discuss a vote motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn - tabled by the veteran backbencher Dame Margaret Hodge - at the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

It is expected to be followed by a vote of MPs in a secret ballot the next day. Although the motion has no formal standing, rebels are hoping that if it is passed his position will become untenable.

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