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Owen Smith warns Labour is ‘unelectable’ if Jeremy Corbyn remains leader

It is understood that no one in the party spoke against or for the motion at the first meeting of the PLP after the summer recess.

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But he said it would also put pressure on former shadow ministers to put their differences aside and return to the top team.

Mr Corbyn wants the US-style project to make breakthroughs in green technology and combating climate change.

Labour MPs are to vote on Tuesday on whether to reinstate a system of electing shadow cabinet members, in an attempt to promote unity within the badly-split parliamentary party.

Mr Corbyn said: “UB40’s story was and remains inspiring; people from across cultures and backgrounds coming together and combining their talents – in a time when prejudice was more prevalent – and creativity to produce music that has endured across decades”.

Labour is now in the middle of a leadership contest, with Owen Smith challenging Mr Corbyn’s position.

In the case of Ellesmere Port MP Mr Madders the scenario is particularly embarrassing as he is in Corbyn’s shadow cabinet with a health portfolio and his own Ellesmere Port & Neston Constituency Labour Party has nominated Corbyn.

Smith is running for the position of Labour leader against incumbent Jeremy Corbyn, who refused to step down after a no-confidence vote among parliamentary members following the Brexit referendum.

He is reported to have told Corbyn: “I’ve done something you’ve never done, and that’s beaten the Tories”.

But crucially, Mr Corbyn received far higher support than his rival among Labour supporters, receiving 41.4% favourable ratings compared with Mr Smith’s 23.7%.

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How the shadow cabinet is made up is one part of the debate, including whether part of it should be elected, by MPs, by members, or by conference. Any review also needs to take account of the need to represent regions, nations, gender and ethnicity.

Labour Party conference