Labour’s shadow equalities minister Kate Green quits amid revolt against Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Shadow equalities minister Kate Green has become the latest figure to quit the Labour cabinet, as Jeremy Corbyn faces a revolt.
Jeremy Corbyn sparked an internal party rift yesterday when he sacked Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn amid a rumoured leadership challenge in the wake of the EU referendum.
At time of publication, 19 of Mr Corbyn’s 31 shadow cabinet members have departed, including many of the party’s most prominent figures.
Kate Green, who had responsibility for LGBT issues as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, is the latest to depart.
She follows all three of the party’s most senior out politicians – Angela Eagle, Chris Bryant and Nia Grififth – as the majority of Mr Corbyn’s team urges him to step down.
Ms Green had met with Corbyn and his team this morning in a bid to secure party stability – but quit after failing to receive assurances from the leader.
She wrote: “The most important task we face today as a party is to show the leadership that our country needs.
“I am sorry you did not appear to accept the special responsibility on you as leader to take all steps possible to unite us, so that we act now as an effective opposition in Parliament, and in anticipation of a general election, which the people whom we represent so desperately need Labour to win.
“It is therefore untenable for me to remain as a member of your shadow cabinet, and I write now to notify you of my resignation.”
Her resignation leaves the equalities team entirely empty – as Mr Corbyn had moved junior equalities minister MP Cat Smith, a hard-left loyalist, out of her role to fill the gap of Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration.
Lord Cashman, Labour’s envoy on Global LGBT Rights, has also resigned.
