Jeremy Corbyn sacks Europe minister as reshuffle enters third day

Michael Dugher, a vocal advocate for Israel in the party who has described Labour’s recent policies on Israel as “catastrophic”, announced he had been “sacked” from the post of shadow culture secretary as part of the Labour leader’s shake-up of the shadow Cabinet.

The sources insisted Eagle was keen to move to the shadow culture role from defence and was happy with her shift sideways.

Reporters said Ms Eagle looked upset after meeting Mr Corbyn but she told them: “I have nothing to say, but that shouldn’t surprise you”. “There’s always ambitious colleagues that sort of spy that golden opportunity to be the shadow secretary of state for paper clips”.

Former leadership contender Andy Burnham said Mr Dugher, who ran his campaign, had served the party with distinction.

Mr McFadden will be replaced by Pat Glass, who was the shadow education minister, as the referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union looms.

Labour insiders suggested shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, whose support for action in Syria angered Mr Corbyn, would keep his job.

In response to the news of Mr Dugher being sacked, deputy leader Tom Watson has issued a statement praising his contributions to the party.

Mr Dugher highlighted an article in the New Statesman in which he cautioned against a reshuffle, writing: “When the Commons returns from recess, all Labour’s energy should be focused on getting after the Tories…”

The two men clearly do not get on.

Paraphrasing Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, in which an albatross carries a curse on the crew of a ship, Mr Cameron said: “Never mind how many Eagles we end up with, I think you have all worked out you’ve got an albatross at the head of your party”.

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell was urging caution – warning that the move could spark a walkout by the remaining moderates in the Shadow Cabinet.

Mr Dugher indicated that his sacking was linked to public comments he had made about the prospect of a “revenge reshuffle” by Mr Corbyn against those who opposed him over Syria.

Shadow leader of the House Chris Bryant said he was “sorry to see” Mr Dugher had left the shadow cabinet. But Mr Lansman claimed that his outspoken interventions had done his leader “a disservice”. “Labour’s loss in the shadow cabinet will be compensated by Michael’s free thought on the backbenches”. But yesterday he chose to stay put as his colleague was booted out.

He later added: “The real casualty today has been the new politics we were promised four months ago from Jeremy”.