THE Leader of Dudley Council has called on Ian Austin to stand in a by-election after the MP became the ninth MP to quit the Labour Party.

The Leader of Dudley Council, Councillor Qada Zada, said he was 'extremely disappointed' with Mr Austin's decision and called for him to stand in a by-election.

He said: "We don't know what he now represents.

"He has let the people down."

The Dudley North MP announced he has quit the party in protest against Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and the party's handling of anti-Semitism.

Mr Austin said: "The Labour Party has been my life, so this has been the hardest decision I have ever had to take, but I have to be honest and the truth is that I have become ashamed of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn."

Mr Austin, who was represented Dudley North since 2005, has been a long-standing and vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

In an email to local members, the MP said that a 'culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance' is driving away 'decent' people.

The MP has a majority of 22 in Dudley North.

He previously served as parliamentary private secretary to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Labour called for Mr Austin 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."

Former Labour MPs Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna and Chris Leslie - who left to form the Independent Group earlier in the week - offered support to Mr Austin after his announcement.

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. #ChangePolitics"

And Mr Umunna posted: "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."

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson added: "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."

Mr Austin has indicated he has no plans to join the Independent Group.