Jeremy Corbyn has spoken out over reports that Labour rebel MPs are considering a plan to attempt to elect their own leader and make a legal challenge for the party’s name and assets if Owen Smith loses the leadership contest.
Responding to the reports in the Telegraph Labour leader Corbyn told the BBC said:
“I will condemn them, if people want to split the Labour Party then they are splitting something that was a creation of the pioneers that [bought] social justice to Britain with a party.”
He added: “We are getting into some fairly bizarre territory here where unnamed MPs, funded from unnamed sources, are apparently trying to challenge - via the Daily Telegraph, very interesting - the very
existence of this party.”
Last month Labour MPs staged a ballot where a no confidence motion was passed against Corbyn which came after numerous resignations from the shadow cabinet and continued calls for the labour leader to step down.
Owen Smith, the challenger to Corbyn in the leadership contest, told the BBC:
“I do worry about a split, I say this very seriously, I think the Labour Party is standing on the edge of the precipice right now.”
Corbyn is seen as a strong favourite to win the leadership election which will be announced on September 24.
