LONG-serving Labour MP for Newport West Paul Flynn has slammed the actions of party colleagues who quit Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet following the result of Thursday’s referendum as “organised treachery”.

A series of Labour MPs, including shadow education, health and Scotland secretaries Lucy Morgan, Heidi Alexander and Ian Murray, quit Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet today following the sacking of Hilary Benn, who was reportedly working to oust the part leader, as shadow foreign secretary.

But Mr Flynn, who was elected to Parliament in 1987 and has held the seat ever since, instead called for unity within Labour.

Calling quitting shadow cabinet members “a disgrace”, he accused MPs of playing “self-indulgent games to advance their careers with resignations on the hour as part of an organised treachery”.

“Young people in Newport are angry and distraught by the referendum result that they believe has damaged their future jobs prospects,” he said.

“They claim that Brexit will be worse than they thought.

“A massive three million people have called for a second vote.

“I expect that to be debated at the Petitions Committee on Tuesday when I will urge an early debate on the subject.”

The Labour veteran said, with a question mark over the future of jobs at large international companies such as Airbus and Tata Steel following Thursday’s vote, he was also concerned the row would distract attention from efforts to boost confidence in the UK job market.

Progress has been made recently in building up a case to retain steel jobs in the UK,” he said.

“We want strong statements from all parties that UK and EU cooperation will continue.

“Already some jobs are haemorrhaging out of the country.”

In her resignation letter to Mr Corbyn Ms Alexander said the UK needed “an effective opposition which can hold the Government to account”.

"As much as I respect you as a man of principle, I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding and I believe that if we are to form the next Government, a change of leadership is essential,” she said.

But Unite representative on Labour’s National Executive Committee Jennie Formby said it was “nonsense” to blame Mr Corbyn for the referendum result.

“Now more than ever is a time for loyalty and unity,” she said.

"The timing of this is appalling.”