Heidi Alexander quits Shadow Cabinet over Corbyn leadership

Heidi Alexander has quit her role as Shadow Health Secretary this morning, saying she has lost confidence in Jeremy Corbyn’s ability to lead the party.

Alexander’s resignation follows Hilary Benn’s sacking late last night, after it transpired the Shadow Foreign Secretary had spoken to frontbench colleagues about asking Corbyn to step down as leader. More Shadow Cabinet members are expected to resign in frustration at Corbyn’s leadership today. You can keep up to date with all the latest on our liveblog.

In a letter to Corbyn, posted to Twitter this morning, Alexander says: “It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you to resign from the Shadow Cabinet.”

She says that the country needs a “strong” and “effective” opposition, that is “capable of developing a credible and inspiring alternative” to the Tories.

She writes: “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.”

You can read the full letter here: