Half of UK shadow cabinet set to resign

Almost half of the UK’s shadow cabinet plans to resign in order to force Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to step down, according to media reports.

This comes shortly after Corbyn dismissed his shadow foreign minister, Hilary Benn, following revelations he was orchestrating a coup against the Labour leader.

On Sunday, Health Secretary Heidi Alexander became the first cabinet member to announce her resignation.

She tweeted, “It is with a heavy heart that I have this morning resigned from the shadow cabinet.”

Corbyn faces a vote of no confidence over his handling of Thursday’s EU referendum, which saw Britain breaking away from the European Union by a 52-48 margin.

Hours after the referendum, two lawmakers submitted a motion of no confidence in Corbyn and other MPs also called for his resignation.

Corbyn said he would resist any attempt to oust him.