Sunday 26 June 2016 8:42 am

Jeremy Corbyn is facing a revolt within the parliamentary Labour party, with 11 frontbenchers resigning in protest, while Hilary Benn was dismissed last night

Jeremy Corbyn is facing a huge revolt within the parliamentary Labour party, with 11 of his cabinet resigning today, while shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn was dismissed late last night.

Since the Labour leader sacked Benn, Corbyn has since seen his shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander, and shadow minister for voter registration Gloria De Piero resign, with Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray, the party's only Scottish MP doing the same.

Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell, shadow transport secretary Lillian Greenwood, shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy and shadow chief treasury secretary Seema Malhotra all followed.

And this evening saw shadow Northern Ireland secretary Vernon Coaker and shadow justice secretary Lord Falconer become the eighth and ninth members of Corbyn's team to resign, with shadow attorney general Karl Turney later bringing the total to 10.

Tonight shadow commons leader Chris Bryant also resigned.

It means that almost a third of Corbyn's 31 member cabinet have now either quit or been dismissed this morning, and reports have suggested up to half of the team could hand in their notices today.

Many of the rebels expressed doubts over Labour's effectiveness in opposition under Corbyn.

“At this critical time for our country, following the result of the EU referendum, we need strong and effective leadership of the Labour party that is capable of winning public support so that we can stand up for the people of Britain," Benn said.

"In a phone call to Jeremy, I told him that for these reasons I had lost confidence in his ability to lead the party and he then dismissed me from the shadow cabinet."

Alexander stepped down this morning, tweeting "it is with a heavy heart that I have this morning resigned".

In a letter to the Labour leader, she wrote: "Our country needs an effective opposition which can hold the government to account."

"As much as I respect you as a man of principle, I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding and I believe that if we are to form the next government, a change of leadership is essential."

While Murray told Corbyn the party, had failed to form "a strong opposition, capable of holding the government to account".

However, Corbyn loyalists have also rallied to the Labour leader's side.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has since come out in support of Corbyn, expressing dismay over the furore on Peston on Sunday.

Describing the rebellion as "party squabbles", McDonnell also said that in the case of a leadership contest, Corbyn would seek re-election and the shadow chancellor said that he would again run Corbyn's campaign.

Similarly, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, defence secretary Emily Thornberry and international development secretary Diane Abbott have also backed Corbyn.

Burnham said it made little sense for the party to plunge itself into a civil war, while speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, Abbott accused the rebels of thinking Corby served "at their will and pleasure"

She added: "If they want a new leader of the opposition, we must either have a proper leadership election – and this vote of confidence has no status in the rule book. Or, they set up a new party and go to the Speaker with the names of all the MPs who are in the new party and that way they can get a new leader. But it will be a brand new party.”

Shadow pensions minister Angela Rayner has also lent her support on social media.

Labour Party needs to unite behind our leader and think of our country as we must show leadership at a time of crisis following leave vote

— Angela Rayner 🌹 (@AngelaRayner) June 26, 2016

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