Ninth Labour MP quits as UK cross-party rebellion grows

A ninth lawmaker quit Britain's main opposition Labour Party on Friday, blaming leader Jeremy Corbyn's handling of accusations of anti-Semitism within its ranks.

Ian Austin's resignation adds to a mounting rebellion against Corbyn after the defections earlier this week of eight Labour MPs over the issues of anti-Semitism and Brexit.

Austin said he was "appalled at the offence and distress Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party have caused to Jewish people" and that he had become "ashamed" of its conduct under the left-wing opposition leader.

"It is terrible that a culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance is driving out good MPs and decent people who have committed their life to mainstream politics," he told the Express & Star, his constituency's local newspaper.

"The hard left is now in charge of the party, they're going to get rid of lots of decent mainstream MPs and I just can't see how it can return to the mainstream party that won elections and changed the country for the better."