Labour leadership crisis: 'Party faces political oblivion under Jeremy Corbyn'

The Labour party is facing political oblivion under Jeremy Corbyn, according to a senior Labour MP.

After tabling a motion of no confidence in Corbyn, Dame Margaret Hodge accused Mr Corbyn of "standing in the way" of progress.

The no confidence motion, seconded by backbench MP Ann Coffey, is expected to be considered at the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday.

"If a general election is called later this year, which is a very real prospect, we believe that under Jeremy's leadership we could be looking at political oblivion.

"We all see at first-hand the terrible problems that exist in our constituencies and we can't do anything about them while the Tories run the country," they said.

They added: "We believe Jeremy is standing in the way and preventing us from securing the confidence of a majority of voters.

"Ukip is targeting our traditional heartlands, not only do we need strong leadership to reconnect with these voters but also to make connections with those who voted to remain in the EU."

In their letter, Dame Margaret and Ms Coffey said the party's "ineffective leadership" was in part to blame for last week's referendum vote to leave the EU.

"We must never forget that adulation at rallies of activists hearing exactly what they want to hear is not a substitute for votes at the ballot box.

“We need to be able to communicate our passion with alienated voters who have shown their anger not their apathy. The lesson of Scotland should be at the front of everyone's mind," they said.

"We believe that Jeremy needs to consider his position. Throughout the referendum campaign he did not show the leadership that the party or the country needed.

“When he did engage it was half-hearted and in the end Labour Party members and voters didn't know where the leader really stood on this crucial issue."