McKinnell quits shadow cabinet over 'Labour Party conflict'

Shadow attorney general Catherine McKinnell has quit Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, citing her growing "concerns about the direction and internal conflict within the Labour Party".

Her resignation is the fourth from the Opposition leader's frontbench team in the wake of a contentious reshuffle which saw his left-wing supporters replace more moderate MPs and an opponent of Trident made shadow defence secretary.

In a letter to Mr Corbyn, the former employment solicitor, who represents Newcastle North, told him she had "shared your optimism for the 'new kind of politics' you spoke so compellingly about".

"However, as events have unfolded over recent weeks, my concerns about the direction and internal conflict within the Labour Party have only grown and I fear this is taking us down an increasingly negative path."