Secretary of State for Wales

Shadow Welsh Secretary Nia Griffith tells Corbyn to quit

• Report rights infringement
• published: 27 Jun 2016
• views: 7

Shadow Welsh Secretary Nia Griffith is meeting Jeremy Corbyn to ask him to step down as Labour leader. She is expected to become the latest resignation from the shadow cabinet if he refuses to quit. Rhondda MP Chris Bryant has already stepped down as shadow leader of the house in protest at Mr Corbyn's leadership during the EU referendum. More than a dozen spokespeople have resigned, saying they have no confidence in him. Pontypridd MP Owen Smith, the shadow work and pensions secretary, is also at the meeting with other members of Labour's front bench team. Earlier on Monday, Caerphilly MP Wayne David quit the Labour front bench, saying Mr Corbyn was not "up to the job" in the wake of the EU referendum vote for Brexit. Mr David held shadow briefs for Scotland, the Cabinet Office and political reform in the shadow justice team. Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock has also resigned as an aide to shadow business minister Angela Eagle. The wave of resignations began following the sacking of Hilary Benn as shadow foreign minister on Sunday after Mr Benn told Mr Corbyn he had lost confidence in his ability to lead the Labour party. Mr Corbyn has announced a new team, including Emily Thornberry as shadow foreign secretary and Diane Abbot moving to health, saying he regretted the resignations but pledged to stand in any new leadership contest. Announcing his resignation live on BBC Radio Wales, Mr David said: "I've deliberated long about this and decided this morning that enough is enough." "My considered view is that in the interests of the country and in the interests of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn has to resign as leader," he told the Good Morning Wales programme. "The truth is that Labour fought a very poor referendum campaign and there was a lack of enthusiasm, to say the least, from Jeremy. "Since the result has been announced it has come to light how Jeremy Corbyn's office systematically watered down Labour's message to make sure that we weren't putting a clear Remain message across, and I think that is very, very wrong." 'Second thoughts' Mr David said he had also been "enormously concerned" by Mr Corbyn's response to what he called the "referendum crisis". "For example, he called for an early exit from the EU which is against our national interest, subsequently changed his position, but it simply goes to highlight that frankly he is not up to the job." He said if there was a general election under Mr Corbyn, the "likelihood is that the Labour Party will lose a large number of seats". Mr David continued: ""The feedback I've got from Labour party members and also from members of the public who have loyally voted Labour for many many years is that they will not continue to vote Labour as long as Jeremy Corbyn is leader of the party. "And we cannot bury our heads in our hand - we have to acknowledge that reality." Asked about Mr Corbyn's mandate following last year's leadership election, Mr David said: "I have the impression that many party members are having second thoughts about what they did - they've learned through the experience of him. "I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but unfortunately my view of him has been confirmed, and many party members are coming to that conclusion as well too." On Sunday, Rhondda MP Chris Bryant resigned as shadow leader of the House of Commons. He told BBC Wales on Monday: "Last week we helped Jeremy hand the right in this country the biggest victory they've had for a century and shot to pieces one of our most important economic and financial policies, namely remaining in the European Union. "I just think that means his position is now untenable. "I said to Jeremy, I've tried my best to make this work but the truth is you did undermine our campaign in the European election and in the end people didn't know whether you wanted us to remain or leave. "And I fear if we go into a general election - which may come in a matter of months now - that kind of ambivalence and poor campaigning will simply lead to the destruction of the Labour party." Mr Bryant added that Labour was "not going to go back to what it was under Blair or Brown", but said the party needed "a leader who is convincing to the vast majority of voters in this country". Mr Kinnock cited Mr Corbyn's "half-hearted and lacklustre role" in the EU campaign in his decision to go. He said in his resignation letter: "Furthermore, British politics will be completely dominated in the coming years by the Brexit negotiations, and I do not believe that you have the requisite skills or experience to ensure that there is a strong Labour voice at the negotiating table as we undertake this monumentally complex task."