Ian Austin has quit the Labour Party, saying he has become "ashamed" of leader Jeremy Corbyn.

However the Midlands MP made clear that he has no plans to join the newly-formed Independent Group of MPs.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Austin said he was "appalled at the offence and distress Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party have caused to Jewish people.

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"It is terrible that a culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance is driving out good MPs and decent people who have committed their life to mainstream politics. 

He added: "Jeremy Corbyn and the people around him have turned a mainstream party into something very different. He has spent his entire political career working with and supporting all sorts of extremists, and in some cases terrorists and antisemites. I always thought he was unfit to lead the Labour Party and I certainly think he is unfit to lead our country."

Mr Austin told the Express and Star he left Labour because of his constituents, saying: "I always tell them the truth and I could never ask local people to make Jeremy Corbyn Prime Minister.
"I am appalled at the offence and distress Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party have caused to Jewish people.

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"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.

"The hard truth is that the party is tougher on the people complaining about anti-Semitism than it is on the anti-Semites."

"I think Jeremy Corbyn has completely changed what was a mainstream party into a completely different party with very different values.

"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."

His resignation follows those of eight other MPs who quit Labour and formed the Independent Group, joined by three Conservatives earlier this week.

Labour called for Mr Austin to quit as an MP and contest a by-election.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "We regret that Ian Austin has left the Labour Party.
"He was elected as a Labour MP and so the democratic thing is to resign his seat and let the people of Dudley decide who should represent them."