2016 British shadow cabinet resignations

Event in British politics; three days after the EU referendum in June 2016 On 26–29 June 2016, 21 members of the Shadow Cabinet resigned from the frontbench. Following the Leave result in the referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, Jeremy Corbyn faced heavy criticism for the perceived reluctance of his involvement in the campaign to Remain and his perceived weakness as leader of the Labour Party.Inman Phillip Former Corbyn adviser Thomas Piketty criticises Labour's 'weak' EU fight https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/29/thomas-piketty-quits-as-adviser-to-jeremy-corbyn The Guardian 29 June 2016 28 December 2020McSmith Andy https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-challenge-jeremy-corbyn-reducing-senior-members-to-tears-latest-updates-a7109916.html The Jeremy Corbyn leadership challenge is reducing the most senior members of Labour to tears The Independent 29 June 2016 The first shadow minister to depart the Opposition frontbench was Hilary Benn, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 26 June.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36632539 Brexit: Hilary Benn sacked as Corbyn faces 'no confidence' pressure 26 June 2016 BBC News Over the course of the day, he was joined by 11 other Shadow Cabinet members, all expressing concern with Corbyn's ability to lead the party into the next general election.Boffey Daniel Phipps Claire Asthana Anushka https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/hilary-benn-revolt-jeremy-corbyn Labour in crisis: shadow ministers resign in protests against Corbyn 26 June 2016 The Guardian On the following day, 27 June, a further eight members resigned, including Angela Eagle, the most senior Shadow Secretary of State.Live updates: Labour leadership crisis: Frontbenchers Angela Eagle and John Healey resign https://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-06-27/frontbenchers-angela-eagle-and-john-healey-resign/ ITV News 27 June 2016 Tom Watson, the deputy party leader, remained in his position while openly criticising Corbyn's leadership.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-in-crisis-shadow-ministers-resign-in-protests-jeremy-corbyn Labour in crisis: Tom Watson criticises Hilary Benn sacking 26 June 2016 Asthana Anushka Syal Rajeev The Guardian Unlike the other members of the Shadow Cabinet, Watson could not be removed by Corbyn as he had been elected, not appointed. This enabled him to put public pressure on Corbyn to resign.Merrick Jane The fate of the MPs who plotted a coup against Corbyn https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/20/mps-plotted-coup-jeremy-corbyn-coup-where-are-they-now The Guardian 20 December 2016 Corbyn's allies in the Shadow Cabinet (Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Emily Thornberry and Jon Trickett)https://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-06-26/corbyn-loyalists-thornbury-and-abbott-urge-against-coup/ Live updates: Labour leadership crisis: Corbyn loyalists Thornbury and Abbott urge against coup 26 June 2016 ITV Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36638041 Corbyn will not resign say allies amid battle with MPs BBC News 27 June 2016 all refused to stand down, condemning the actions of their former colleagues as a "coup" against the democratically elected party leader. Andy Burnham, the Shadow Home Secretary and leadership candidate in 2015, also announced that he would not resign, saying that he believed that "civil war" in the party was a bad idea.https://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-06-26/burnham-will-not-take-part-in-coup-against-corbyn/ Live updates: Labour leadership crisis: Burnham will not take part in 'coup' against Corbyn 26 June 2016 ITV News In addition, 18 other shadow ministers not in the Shadow Cabinet resigned, including Diana Johnson, Anna Turley, Toby Perkins, Yvonne Fovargue, Alex Cunningham, Steve Reed, Roberta Blackman-Woods, Wayne David, Jenny Chapman, Keir Starmer, Richard Burden, Jack Dromey, Thangam Debbonaire, Susan Elan Jones, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Sharon Hodgson, Melanie Onn, Nic Dakin and 9 Parliamentary private secretaries. On 27 June, Corbyn announced new appointments to his top team, including promotions for Abbott and Thornberry, and 13 new members.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying Syal Rajeev Perraudin Frances Slawson Nicola The Guardian 27 June 2016 Because few Labour MPs were prepared to support him, Corbyn introduced a number of joint portfolios, such as combining the Scotland and Northern Ireland briefs. He also appointed veteran backbench MP Paul Flynn, who is believed to have become the oldest frontbench spokesperson since William Gladstone, at 81 years of age.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-36675087 'Trailblazer' octogenarian back on Commons front bench 30 June 2016 Cornock David BBC News On 28 June, the Parliamentary Labour Party held a motion of no confidence in Corbyn as party leader, which passed overwhelmingly with 172 votes in favour and 40 votes against.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-loses-no-confidence-vote-among-labour-mps-by-176-to-40-a7107826.html Jeremy Corbyn loses 'no confidence' vote among Labour MPs by 172 to 40 Stone Jon 28 June 2016 The Independent On the following day, Pat Glass resigned after two days as Shadow Education Secretary, stating that the situation had become "untenable".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36661409 Pat Glass resigns as Labour education shadow secretary 29 June 2016 BBC News Despite the result of the no-confidence vote, Corbyn claimed that it had "no constitutional legitimacy" and refused to resign. Several high-profile and influential Labour MPs were touted as possible leadership challengers, as Corbyn's opponents tried to find a single candidate to unite around.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote 28 June 2016 Labour MPs prepare for leadership contest after Corbyn loses confidence vote Asthana Anushka Syal Rajeev Elgot Jessica The Guardian Eventually two emerged: Angela Eagle and Owen Smith, who launched their leadership campaigns on 11 JulyWalker Peter Angela Eagle says 'I'm here to win' at launch of Labour leadership bid https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/11/im-here-to-win-angela-eagle-launch-labour-leadership-bid The Guardian 11 July 2016 and 13 July,Labour leadership: Owen Smith to enter contest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36780715 BBC News 13 July 2016 respectively. Eagle withdrew from the race and endorsed Smith on 19 July, making him the sole challenger to Corbyn.Rampen Julia Angela Eagle drops out of the Labour leadership race https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/07/angela-eagle-drops-out-labour-leadership-race New Statesman 19 July 2016 Corbyn was re-elected with 313,209 votes, a 61.8% share of the total vote.http://labourlist.org/2016/09/jeremy-corbyn-earns-refreshed-mandate-as-he-is-re-elected-labour-leader/ Jeremy Corbyn earns refreshed mandate as he is re-elected Labour leader – LabourList 24 September 2016 LabourList Following his victory, Corbyn re-shuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 6–7 October, inviting back a few of the former members who had resigned in June. Nia Griffith returned as Shadow Defence Secretary, John Healey as Shadow Housing Secretary and Keir Starmer as Shadow Brexit Secretary.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37588143 Labour's new shadow cabinet in full BBC News 7 October 2016 List of resignations 26 June # Portrait MP Constituency Office Notes 1 75px Hilary Benn Leeds Central Shadow Foreign Secretary Sacked during a phone call in which Benn stated that he had lost confidence in Corbyn's leadership. 2 75px Heidi Alexander Lewisham East Shadow Health Secretary 3 75px Gloria De Piero Ashfield Shadow Minister for Young People 4 75px Ian Murray Edinburgh South Shadow Scottish Secretary 5 75px Lilian Greenwood Nottingham South Shadow Transport Secretary 6 75px Lucy Powell Manchester Central Shadow Education Secretary 7 75px Kerry McCarthy Bristol East Shadow Environment Secretary 8 75px Seema Malhotra Feltham and Heston Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury 9 75px Vernon Coaker Gedling Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary 10 75px Lord Falconer of Thoroton Member of the House of Lords Shadow Justice SecretaryShadow Lord Chancellor 11 75px Karl Turner Kingston upon Hull East Shadow Attorney General 12 75px Chris Bryant Rhondda Shadow Leader of the House of Commons 27 June # Portrait MP Constituency Office Notes 13 75px Lisa Nandy Wigan Shadow Energy Secretary Joint resignation; released statement together, calling on Tom Watson to take over as interim leader.Owen Smith on Jeremy Corbyn: 'It breaks my heart' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-politics-36642379 BBC News 27 June 2016 14 75px Owen Smith Pontypridd Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary 15 75px Angela Eagle Wallasey Shadow First Secretary of StateShadow Business Secretary 16 75px John Healey Wentworth and Dearne Shadow Minister for Housing Returned to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Housing Secretary on 6 October. 17 75px Nia Griffith Llanelli Shadow Welsh Secretary Returned to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Defence Secretary on 6 October. 18 75px Maria Eagle Garston and Halewood Shadow Culture Secretary 19 75px Kate Green Stretford and Urmston Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities 20 75px Luciana Berger Liverpool Wavertree Shadow Minister for Mental Health 29 June # Portrait MP Constituency Office Notes 21 75px Pat Glass North West Durham Shadow Education Secretary Appointed to replace Lucy Powell on 27 June; resigned after two days in the Shadow Cabinet, saying that she had decided to stand down at the next general election. Aftermath No confidence motion Motion of no confidence Ballot → 28 June 2016 Required majority → 115 out of 229 Labour MPs 15 Ayes 172 229 green 125px 172 229 1 Noes 40 229 red 125px 40 229 1 Spoilt ballot 4 229 gray 125px 4 229 1 Did not vote 13 229 black 125px 13 229 1 Leadership challenge 2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK) The 'chicken coup' A number of media outlets and Corbyn supporters used the name "chicken coup" to refer to the 2016 shadow cabinet resignations.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/05/political-establishment-momentum-jeremy-corbyn The elites hate Momentum and the Corbynites - and I'll tell you why Graeber David The Guardian 5 July 2016 6 September 2025https://observer.co.uk/listen/eight-years-hard-labour/the-chicken-coup The chicken coup The Observer 28 November 2023 6 September 2025https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58188208 Starmer rejects McCluskey's claim Labour could be finished under his leadership BBC News 12 August 2021 6 September 2025 References 3 Category:2016 in British politics Category:June 2016 in the United Kingdom Category:Political controversies in the United Kingdom Shadow 2016 Category:Jeremy Corbyn