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LABOUR IN CRISIS

Six peers set to LEAVE Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour and could do deals with other parties in fresh blow to leaderhip

Lord Mandelson dismissed reports that peers have also been in talks with other parties to vote with them on key issues - and are thought to want to sit as crossbenchers

LORD Mandelson has dismissed reports that there are up to six peers prepared to defect from the Labour Party.

The former communications director said the reports were just "speculation" but that Jeremy Corbyn's party needed to show more strength if it were to win an election.

Lord Mandelson said he believed Labour could improve its position
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Lord Mandelson said he believed Labour could improve its positionCredit: PA:Press Association

that as many as six members of the House of Lords are considering resigning the Labour whip.

The peers have also been in talks with other parties to vote with them on key issues - and are thought to want to sit as crossbenchers.

Liberal Democrat sources said that they were preparing a deal to get some to vote with them.

The Peer said reports of defections from Labour were "speculation"
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The Peer said reports of defections from Labour were "speculation"Credit: Elliott Franks

Today Lord Mandelson pleaded with peers to stay in the party and work to reverse Labour's dire polling.

"I believe the Labour party can recover its ground in British politics... I work for that day in, day out," he told the Andrew Marr Show today.

Earlier this week the former PM Tony Blair called on pro-Europeans to fight Brexit - which was slammed by Mr Corbyn as "unhelpful".

Mr Corbyn urged the former prime minister to “respect the result” of the vote to leave and to put his energy towards building relations in Europe.

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Lord Mandelson warned the Labour leader that he needed to do more to "show strength".

He said the party had "got to demonstrate strength, clarity... It's got to know what it stands for."

And he added: "Strength vs weakness is as important as left vs right."

Tony Blair said earlier this week that pro-Remainers should work together to stop Brexit
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Tony Blair said earlier this week that pro-Remainers should work together to stop BrexitCredit: PA:Press Association

Labour is facing two tough tests in by-elections later this week.

Voters in Stoke Central and Copeland will take to the polls to elect MPs to replace the two Labour politicians who recently quit.

Labour has lost core support - and Ukip are optimistic about taking the Stoke seat.

The constituency has been Labour's safest since its creation in 1950, but with 69 per cent of voters choosing to leave the EU many are predicting a UKIP win.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said today that the by-elections were "difficult" for the party, but that Mr Corbyn would continue to lead even if they lost the seats.

"I am confident Jeremy will lead us into 2020," she said. "I am confident the polls will improve."

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