Labour Descends Deeper Into Chaos And Confusion

The Labour Party has descended further into chaos with more resignations and growing uncertainty over a potential leadership contest.

Angela Eagle was strongly expected to run against Jeremy Corbyn and was due to announce her candidacy at 3pm on Thursday.

But, as the hour came and went, there has been no word from the former business secretary.

Meanwhile, MP Rob Marris resigned from his role in the shadow Treasury team during the committee stage hearings on the Finance Bill.

It is thought Ms Eagle's decision to wait is designed to give Labour rebels more time to intensify the pressure on Mr Corbyn to quit of his own accord.

But the confusion occurred on a day during which Mr Corbyn was accused of making "offensive" comments at the launch of a Labour party inquiry into anti-Semitism.

The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said that rather than rebuilding trust among the Jewish community, the Labour leader had caused "even greater concern".

His comments came after Labour MP Ruth Smeeth stormed out of the launch of a report into anti-Semitism in the party.

Ms Smeeth was accused of colluding with The Daily Telegraph by a member of Momentum, the group that provides political support to Mr Corbyn.

She said that attack on her was an anti-Semitic remark.

"I was verbally attacked by a Momentum activist and Jeremy Corbyn supporter who used traditional anti-Semitic slurs to attack me for being part of a 'media conspiracy'," she said.

"It is beyond belief that someone could come to the launch of a report on anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and espouse such vile conspiracy theories about Jewish people."

She said that previously she had not been an opponent of Mr Corbyn but as the Labour leader ignored the criticism of her in the meeting, "the fact that he failed to intervene is final proof for me that he is unfit to lead."

The Labour leader was also forced to deny comparing Israel and Islamic State after telling those attending the event that Jews were "no more responsible for the actions of Israel" than Muslims were for the "various self-styled Islamic states or organisations".

Sky's Darren McCaffrey was repeatedly ignored when attempting to ask questions in the meeting and was forced to ask one without being allowed a microphone.

When he did get to ask Mr Corbyn a question about the leadership, he was shouted down by the leader's supporters and told to "have some respect".

Mr Corbyn ignored the anti-Semitism controversy when he later released a statement on Twitter, and still refused to stand down.

He said: "United we stand, divided we fall is one of the oldest and truest slogans of the labour movement.

"Labour has the responsibility to give a lead where the Government will not. We need to bring people together to hold the Government to account.

"To do that we need to stand together. Since I was elected leader of our party nine months ago, we have repeatedly defeated the Government over its attacks on living standards.

"I was elected leader of our party, for a new kind of politics, by 60% of Labour members and supporters. The need for that different approach is now greater than ever.

"As leader, it is my continued commitment to dedicate our party's activity to that goal."

In a further instance of disarray, the tweet with the statement was later deleted.

The review into anti-Semitism, carried out by Shami Chakrabarti, found the Labour Party "is not overrun by anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or other forms of racism".

It was commissioned in the wake of controversial remarks about Jews made by former London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Ms Smeeth later tweeted that Ms Chakrabati apologised "unreservedly for the way I was treated at her press conference".

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has said he will not run against Mr Corbyn but has been attempting to persuade him to move aside, on Wednesday describing his party as being "in peril".

Former leaders Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman have also joined calls for Mr Corbyn to quit.

The big four unions that back the Labour Party have said they recognise the need for a leadership contest but will continue to support Mr Corbyn.

On Tuesday night, following mass resignations from the shadow front bench, 172 Labour MPs backed a vote of no confidence in him, with just 40 voting against.

On Wednesday, Mr Corbyn was attacked in the Commons by David Cameron during PMQs, with the Prime Minister telling him: "For heaven's sake man, go."

Meanwhile, author and former Labour donor Robert Harris has urged people who are concerned about what is happening to the party to become members to vote Mr Corbyn out.