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Labour MP Ian Austin has become the ninth Labour MP to leave the party this week.

The MP said he has become ashamed of the group under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

On Monday Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Ann Coffey, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker and Mike Gapes all quit, followed by Joan Ryan the next day.

They have each become members of the new Independent Group, which Mr Austin says he has no plans to join at present.

The 53-year-old MP for Dudley North announced the news through the Express and Star newspaper, stating he wanted to tell people in constituency first.

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."

Following on from this Mr Austin, whose Jewish adoptive father was forced to flee the Nazis as a child, commented on anti-Semitism directly and said: "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."

Commenting on the Independent Group, he said: "I think the Labour Party is broken and clearly things have to change but that's not what today is about, and I've not talked to them about that."

Mr Austin has previously held ministerial roles within the Labour party and was first elected MP for Dudley North in 2005.

Since Mr Austin's announcement Labour has called for him 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."

Following his announcement, Chuka Umunna expressed his "massive respect" for Mr Austin's decision.

He wrote on Twitter: "Massive respect to @IanAustinMP for making this incredibly difficult decision - it's painful and hard but he has stayed true to his values and what he believes to be the national interest."

Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith and Mike Gapes also sent messages of support.

Ms Berger tweeted: "I fully understand why @IanAustinMP has come to this difficult and painful decision."

Mr Leslie wrote: "Full respect for @IanAustinMP and his difficult decision to leave @UKLabour today. Politics is broken and it is so important MPs stand up for the mainstream values we share."

Ms Smith tweeted: "Thinking of my good friend @IanAustinMP, who I know has made a brave but painful decision to leave the Labour Party. Ian has given so much to Labour over the years, but our politics is broken and is failing to put our country first."

While Mr Gapes wrote: "Well done. @IanAustinMP I know how hard it is to make the very difficult decision that you can no longer be a member after decades of work for the Labour Party. Politics is broken."

The latest departure continues the split caused by a raft of defections from the Labour party to the new Independent Group, whose members have referenced anti-Semitism and Brexit stances as issues behind their leaving.

Mr Corbyn has vowed to battle anti-Semitism in his party and beyond and in a video message said his party was an "ally" of Jewish people.

He has also expressed his disappointment at the decisions to quit, while calling on those who have left to fight by-elections for their seats in their constituencies.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said he was "very sad" over Mr Austin's decision.

He tweeted: "Very sad to lose another colleague from the Labour team. It's also personally hard to see a close friend take a decision of this magnitude."

Three Conservative MPs have also quit their party for the Independent Group, with both main parties warned of further walkouts.

Theresa May has been told to "face down" Jacob Rees-Mogg's European Research Group amid warnings more Conservative MPs could leave.