Faced with a revolt in his ranks after suffering a loss in last week’s historic referendum, British Labour Party and Remain campaigner leader Jeremy Corbyn isn’t backing away from his post without a fight.
“Those wanting to change the Labour Party leadership will have to take part in a democratic election,” a tweet from Corbyn’s official Twitter account Monday evening read.
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That came as supporters filled Parliament Square to call for the opposition party leader to remain at the helm. The crowd was estimated to range in size from hundreds of people to upwards of 3,000, although Labour MP John McDonnell had a more generous estimate of 10,000 people.
“Don’t let the people who wish us ill divide us,” McDonnell told the throngs of supporters holding signs that read “Tories out. Corbyn In.”
“Jeremy Corbyn is not resigning, he’s staying” McDonnell said.
Corbyn has taken heat since the loss from critics claiming he didn’t put up enough of a fight in the referendum campaign.
Corbyn not only saw more than 30 of his MPs resign by Monday, in the wake of the referendum defeat, but his party also moved to hold a no-confidence vote on his leadership.
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Opponents accuse Corbyn, who represents the socialist left wing of the party, of making little effort to persuade Labour supporters to back remaining in the EU, and they fear he cannot win a national election that could be called as early as the autumn.
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But Corbyn wouldn’t be the only political casualty of the Brexit vote should he be ousted.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who called for the referendum during last year’s general election and supported the country remaining in the EU, resigned immediately following the vote to leave.
“I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers the country to its next destination,” Cameron said Friday morning after the results were tabulated.
More than 17 million Britons voted in favour of Britain exiting the EU, while more than 16 million people cast their vote to remain a part of the 28-nation bloc.
With files from The Associated Press
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