SACKED

Former shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn

Son of veteran Labour left-winger Tony Benn, Hilary Benn has been sacked as shadow foreign secretary.

He told the BBC it had been a “very difficult decision” to tell Jeremy Corbyn that he no longer had confidence in him. But he added that Labour needed “strong and effective leadership”: “We don’t currently have that, and there is also no confidence that we will be able to win a general election as long as Jeremy remains leader.”

Despite his brief, Benn, the MP for Leeds Central, had disagreed with Corbyn in September over air strikes on Syria and his Commons speech on the issue led to much speculation at the time that he would be sacked then. Benn served as a minister in both the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown governments, and was shadow secretary of state for communities and local government in Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet. While Corbyn opposed the invasion of Iraq, Benn has said he does not regret voting for the war in 2003, but described it as one of the “hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make”.

RESIGNED

Former shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander

A former party whip under Miliband’s leadership, the MP for Lewisham East has a lower profile than Benn outside Westminster. Made shadow health secretary in Corbyn’s first shadow cabinet, she was categorised as “neutral, but not hostile” to Corbyn in a list of Labour MPs leaked to The Times in March. But in a letter on Sunday, she said she was resigning with a “heavy heart” from the shadow cabinet following the referendum result: “As much as I respect you as a man of principle, 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.”

RESIGNED

Former shadow minister for young people and voter registration Gloria De Piero

The former GMTV reporter has resigned, according to the Guardian, which reported that in her letter to Corbyn she told him: “I do not believe you can deliver that victory at a general election, which may take place in a matter of months. I have been contacted by many of my members this weekend and it is clear that a good number of them share that view and have lost faith in your leadership.” She has represented Ashfield since the 2010 general election. She served as a shadow culture minister and shadow home office minister under Miliband, before being appointed as a shadow minister for women and equalities in 2013.

RESIGNED

Shadow secretary of state for Scotland Ian Murray MP

Murray, the only current Labour MP in Scotland, has resigned as shadow Scotland secretary. He told the BBC it had been an “incredibly difficult decision”, but the sacking of Benn had been “the final straw for me”, having raised concerns about the direction of the Labour Party on Friday, after the referendum result. He said Corbyn was a “decent human being” and was “principled”, but said ultimately: “He can’t lead the Labour Party in a general election because he’s not likely to win.” He said the party must widen its appeal outside its “comfort zone”. He had continued as shadow Scottish secretary under Corbyn, having initially been given the role by acting leader Harriet Harman in May 2015.

RESIGNED

Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell

The Manchester Central MP, has confirmed that she has resigned “with regret” from the shadow cabinet. In a letter to Corbyn, she said: “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 ... I do not have the confidence that you can bring the party together, lead us to a general election and be an effective opposition.”

Elected in 2012, Powell was a close ally of Miliband and was vice-chair of Labour’s general election campaign. During the leadership campaign she said she had “never, ever met or spoken to” Corbyn since becoming an MP. After being appointed, she said education was a subject she was “passionate” about.

RESIGNED

Shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy

The Bristol East MP, first elected in 2005, had previously shadowed positions in the Foreign Office, Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions. She is also a vegan and campaigns on food issues.

RESIGNED

Shadow secretary of state for transport Lilian Greenwood

The Nottingham South MP has represented her constituency since 2010 and was promoted from shadow rail minister under Miliband’s leadership.