The Labour MP for Hove will not be following eight colleagues in quitting their party, he said this morning (Wednesday 20 February).
Peter Kyle, who has been critical of the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, said: “I’m not about to quit. It’s not even crossed my mind in the build up to those who have left.
“I’m just totally focused on working to deliver my compromise plan to end the Brexit nightmare.
“I have tried really hard to show empathy with those who have gone. They’re my friends and I’m a human being as well as a politician.
“Some have interpreted that as me being on the verge of quitting. I’m not.”
An eighth Labour MP – Joan Ryan – quit the party yesterday, following the seven departures on Monday.
The seven who said that they would sit in the House of Commons as independents were Luciana Berger, who has criticised anti-semitism in Labour ranks, Chuka Umunna, Ann Coffey, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith.
Three anti-Brexit Conservative MPs – Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston – have quit their party and are believed to have joined the eight who have left Labour.
This is a very different take on Peter Kyle’s future than the impression given by the Argus. Interestingly, it is supported by the MP’s own unequivocal comments on social media.