What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Emily Thornberry has told a Labour rally in Tory defector Anna Soubry's consituency she "would rather die than join any other party".

Nine Labour MPs have quit the Labour party this week, with eight joining The Independent Group, which has also attracted three Tory MPs so far, including Broxtowe MP.

But the Shadow Foreign Secretary said she would never entertain the thought of abandoning Labour.

Ms Thornberry told the rally in Beeston, Nottinghamshire: "We have a great deal in common and the biggest thing we have in common is the fact that we are Labour.

(Image: PA)

"We are Labour to the core and Labour to the tips of our fingerprints - and we would rather die than join any other party and we would never think of joining the other eight people who have decided to abandon Labour and cuddle up to the Tories.

"We would never do that."

Also speaking at the rally, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Our party has had an interesting few days. I've had a very interesting week in politics.

"I'm obviously very sad at some of the things that have happened and very sad at some of the things that have been said.

(Image: PA)

"Walking away from our movement achieves nothing. Not understanding where we have come from is a bad mistake.

"Because when people come together in a grouping, in a community like the Labour Party, there's nothing we can't achieve together for everybody."

Mr Corbyn continued: "Labour, for me, is my life - and I'm very sad at people who have left our party. I really am.

"I say this to them: in June 2017, I was elected on a manifesto.

"Emily was elected on a manifesto, Richard was elected on a manifesto, Gloria was elected on a manifesto - it was the same manifesto."

Mr Corbyn added: "When the media talk about the bravery of those who walked away, Anna Soubry voted for austerity and said it was a good thing, almost immediately after leaving Chris Leslie tells us that we should not be ending university fees ... and we should be cutting corporation tax and increasing the burden on others.

"Well, I'll tell you what, the Labour Party believes in equality and justice, that is what was the centre of our manifesto, and that will be at the centre of our next manifesto."

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Corbyn also addressed the anti-Semitism issues within the party, which MPs Luciana Berger and Joan Ryan both cited as they quit Labour this week.

He said: "When people are racist to each other, then we oppose it in any way whatsoever.

"If anyone is racist towards anyone else in our party - wrong. Out of court, out of order, totally and absolutely unacceptable.

"Anti-Semitism is unacceptable in any form and in any way whatsoever, and anywhere in our society."

He added: "I'm proud to lead a party that was the first ever to introduce race relations legislation and also to pass the equality act and the human rights act into the statute book."

- An earlier version of this story said five MPs had quit Labour this week