Labour membership falls by more than 4,200 in a week

Labour has lost more than 4,000 members in just one week – amid signs that the Corbyn surge is over.

The party’s membership fell 4,243 last week, with another 30,394 classed as in arrears, according to sources.

Insiders told MailOnline the boom after Jeremy Corbyn’s better-than-expected election performance seemed to have ‘peaked’. 

However, the total on Labour’s books still stands at 552,175 – many times more than are thought to be signed up to the Tories.

Insiders told MailOnline the boom after Jeremy Corbyn’s better-than-expected election performance seemed to have ‘peaked’ (file picture)

Labour frontbenchers had boasted that they were on the way to becoming a million-member party in the wake of the election last June, with a jubilant Mr Corbyn getting a rapturous reception on stage at the Glastonbury festival despite losing.

But the weekly internal update shows that 4,795 people let their Labour membership lapse in the week to Sunday, the highest weekly number departing since March last year.

Those leaving are thought to be mainly Europhiles who signed up after the Leave vote at the referendum in June 2016.

They were offset by 819 new joiners, and a few clearing their arrears, giving a net loss of 4,243. 

Officials appeared to blame the fall on Mr Corbyn’s refusal to shift position on Brexit, where the party has so far refused to come out in favour of a second referendum or staying in the single market.

They said in the update: ‘Those departing were made up mostly of members joining at the time of the EU Referendum. 

‘The number of lapsers in the period is high as a result of a spike in joiners around 18 months ago.’

A jubilant Mr Corbyn received a rapturous reception on stage at the Glastonbury festival (pictured) despite losing the general election

A jubilant Mr Corbyn received a rapturous reception on stage at the Glastonbury festival (pictured) despite losing the general election

However, sources suggested it could also be down to people buying memberships as Christmas presents in 2016 which they have not bothered to renew. 

Some 30,394 members are in arrears with their subscription, suggesting that the reduction in numbers is set to continue.

Greater London was the biggest hub for Labour members, according to the figures, with 112,000 based there.

That was more than in the Yorkshire and Northern regions combined – where there were nearly 80,000 members. 

 A Labour Party spokesperson said: ‘Labour is the largest progressive political party in Europe, made up of hundreds of thousands of members and affiliated supporters, who are working to transform our society for the many not the few.’  

LONDON IS THE BIGGEST HUB FOR LABOUR MEMBERS

 Yorkshire & The Humber -51,068

North – 28,177

Scotland – 25,770

West Midlands – 37,291

East Midlands – 35,041

North West – 71,488

Greater London – 112,308

Wales – 27,688

South East – 66,805

East – 42,769

South West – 48,468

 

 

  

 



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