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Jeremy Corbyn walked out on a crucial meeting with party leaders because former Labour MP Chuka Umunna was invited.

The Labour leader was reported to have said he was leaving because Mr Umunna, now an Independent Group MP, is "not a real party leader".

A Labour spokesperson said: "It was not the meeting that had been agreed and the terms were broken. Downing Street is in such chaos that they were unable to manage their own proposed meeting.

"We are in discussions with Number 10 about holding the bilateral meeting with the PM that Jeremy proposed at PMQs ."

(Image: Getty Images)

Just hours earlier, at Prime Minister's Questions, the Labour leader challenged the Prime Minister, saying: "Incompetence, failure and intransigence from the Prime Minister and her Government have brought us to this point.

"Parliament has rejected her deal, it's rejected no deal. The Prime Minister now has no plan.

"In an effort to break the deadlock, I've held meetings with members all across the house, and I'm having further meetings today, to find a compromise that supports jobs and living standards.

"Tomorrow I'm meeting EU Prime Ministers and officials in Brussels.

"Mr Speaker this is a national crisis. Will the Prime Minister meet me today to discuss our proposals as a way forward to get out of this crisis?"

Following the meeting, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: "Jeremy Corbyn’s kinder, gentler politics was found wanting as he stomped out of the meeting before it began rather than breathe the same air as Chuka Umunna."

Mr Umunna described Corbyn's refusal to engage in talks as "extraordinary" and "very juvenile".

(Image: PA)



Speaking to Sky News in a clip he shared to Twitter, Mr Umunna said the country is in "a crisis situation" and the people of the UK expect conflicting political groups to "come together" to find a way forward.

"That's why the Prime Minister convened the meeting and I welcome the fact she did so," he said.

"I think it's really extraordinary behaviour for the Leader of the Opposition to behave in really this kind of very juvenile way when the moment demands that we all step up and engage in some serious dialogue to find our way through this chaos and this mess.

"But he will have to explain his actions."

MP Chris Leslie, a member of the Independent Group, described Jeremy Corbyn's refusal to engage in talks as "astonishing" and "petty".

He tweeted: "Astonishing. Yet again Jeremy Corbyn puts petty party politics before the national interest."

Mr Corbyn spoke to the Prime Minister later, after her televised address.

After a phone call which lasted about 20 minutes, Mr Corbyn said: "The Prime Minister has shown tonight she is in complete denial about the scale of the crisis we are facing and unable to offer the leadership the country needs.

“To continue to bring back her damaging and twice rejected deal without significant changes, while threatening a no deal outcome ruled out by MPs, is unacceptable and reckless.

“I made clear to the Prime Minister tonight that we must move immediately to agree a compromise alternative that supports jobs and living standards, can win the support of parliament, be negotiated with the EU and bring the country together.”

Pro-EU Labour MP Stephen Doughty tweeted: “We are tired of *you* Prime Minister. You are not on our side. It’s the same old robotic nonsense. Time to listen. Time to compromise.”