The Labour leader insisted the fresh wave of defiance and frontbench resignations in his party are ‘not a disaster’
JEREMY Corbyn has laughed off claims Labour is in crisis as he accused the BBC of peddling “fake news” over reports he is set to quit over his party’s Brexit shambles.
The hapless leftie insisted the fresh wave of defiance by his MPs and the latest frontbench resignations are “not a disaster”.
The Labour leader said the rumours which purported he was preparing to stand down and had set a departure date were "absolute nonsense".
During fractious exchanges on Breakfast, Mr Corbyn took a leaf out of Donald Trump’s book and accused the programme’s presenter Charlie Stayt of reporting "fake news".
The President has repeatedly attacked media outlets in America for negative reports about him, and labelled them “fake” or “phoney”.
Mr Corbyn’s angry comments came after last night’s historic vote on the Brexit bill last night plunged his party into disarray.
Clive Lewis quit as shadow business secretary so he could to defy the three-line whip and vote against the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, joining 51 of his Labour colleagues.
Conservatives seized on the opposition's turmoil over the vote to back the start of Britain's divorce talks with Brussels to claim they were "hopelessly divided".
But asked about the rebellion by Labour MPs, Mr Corbyn told the programme: "No, it's not a disaster."
Mr Corbyn said suggestions swirling around Westminster on Wednesday that he had set a date for stepping down as party leader were from "I made it up yesterday dot com".
"Absolute nonsense," he said. "I'm really surprised the BBC is reporting fake news. There is no news. There is no news."
Pressed about claims he would have to reconsider his position in a year if his poll ratings had not improved, Mr Corbyn replied: "We are demanding social justice in Britain.
“That's what the Labour Party exists for, that's what I'm leading the party for and that's what I'm going to continue doing."
Mr Corbyn said he had ordered his MPs to walk through the voting lobby with the Government because the party had to carry out the result of the referendum.
The Labour leader insisted his party had not given Prime Minister Theresa May a blank cheque over Brexit.
But told by BBC presenter Charlie Stayt that Labour had agreed with everything, a clearly irritated Mr Corbyn replied: "No, we haven't agreed with everything. Do you not understand that this was a one-clause Bill?"
A total of 11 junior shadow ministers and three whips, who are meant to enforce party discipline, voted against the bill as it passed its final Commons hurdle last night.
It remains to be seen whether Mr Corbyn will sack them for defying him, having previously said he would be “lenient” on the rebels.
It is now expected he will begin a reshuffle of his frontbench team this afternoon, after the latest resignation comes on the back of three shadow cabinet ministers quitting to vote against the Bill at second reading last week.
