London's Mayor Sadiq Khan on Saturday called on Labour party members to replace Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Sky News reported, citing an article Khan wrote for The Observer.
The Labour Party "cannot go on like this," Khan warned in the op-ed, urging party members to ditch Corbyn in next month's leadership election and announcing his support for Corbyn's rival, Owen Smith.
Khan, who became London's first Muslim mayor when he was elected in May, accuses the Labour leader in the article of failing to "win the trust and respect of the British people," saying his lack of leadership had become clear during the EU referendum.
"Jeremy has already proved that he is unable to organize an effective team and has failed to win the trust and respect of the British people," he said.
"Jeremy's personal ratings are the worst of any opposition leader on record and the Labour Party is suffering badly as a result,” charged Khan, adding, "He has lost the confidence of more than 80% of Labour MPs in Parliament - and I am afraid we simply cannot afford to go on like this.”
The Labour Party has been in turmoil since June's referendum result, noted Sky News, with many Corbyn critics accusing the Labour leader of failing to campaign strongly enough for the UK to remain in the EU.
Even before that, Corbyn was under fire by the local Jewish community due to his calling Hamas and Hezbollah his "friends" and outright refusing to condemn those two terrorist organizations despite being urged to do so by local Jewish groups.
The problem with anti-Semitism in the Labour party goes far beyond its leader, however, as in recent months the party has suspended dozens of members due to anti-Semitic statements.
Shortly after he was elected, Khan disassociated himself from Corbyn, refusing photo ops with the party chief and even leveling thinly-veiled criticisms against him.