Portsmouth Labour leader says Jeremy Corbyn '˜has to go' in light of party vote

Labour’s Parliamentary party this week voted by 172 to 40 in favour of a motion calling for Mr Corbyn to step down.

The veteran politician has been accused of being ‘invisible’ during the EU referendum campaign.

Councillor John Ferrett, of Paulsgrove ward, said: ‘Of course he has to go. I have been saying that for nine months; I have been urging the parliamentary Labour party from afar to take this action.

‘Obviously, I am really pleased they have done that.

‘Without it happening, and without it happening quickly, I really fear for the future of the Labour party.’

Cllr Ferrett believes that whatever happens, the party will end up being divided.

He said: ‘There is a possibility of the party fragmenting.

‘If Corbyn stays, I can see it splitting into two.

‘And if he goes, a lot of the people who joined because of Corbyn are likely to go with him.

‘Given a lot of people who joined the party where from previous parties hostile to Labour, then maybe that’s what they should do.

‘Clearly, Corbyn has made the Labour party unelectable.

‘It doesn’t look like a party that is ready to take office at the moment.’

But Portsmouth Labour activist Sue Castillon believes Mr Corbyn should remain in charge.

She said: ‘If another 
leadership election contest is triggered, I firmly believe he will be elected again as he represents a huge swath of disaffected and disappointed people in this country who have had enough of the “Teflon” parliamentarians within the Westminster 
bubble who appear to not care about ordinary working and non-working people, and have no comprehension of people’s every day lives.’