PETER Kyle has dropped a bombshell by admitting he could quit the Labour Party.

The MP for Hove and Portslade said he is ruling nothing out after seven MPs ditched the party to form their own parliamentary group.

They cited Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism among their reasons for the decision.

Read more: Labour split puts Brighton at risk of Tory takeover, says MP

Speaking exclusively to The Argus about his future within the party, Mr Kyle said: “I can’t say yes or no to anything, the political landscape is changing and there’s a new bombshell every week.

“The people who left the party are friends of mine and will remain friends of mine.

“I was moved and upset by some of the things I heard in their statements.

“It’s important people like me reflect very carefully on what they said and what the lessons are for me as an individual and what it says about my party.”

Mr Kyle has been a longstanding critic of Labour leader Mr Corbyn.

He has also been a vocal critic of the increasing power of activist group Momentum within the Labour Party.

On Monday he revealed he is refusing to sign a loyalty pledge to Mr Corbyn which MPs are being asked to sign.

He argues that “leadership should be compelling, not compulsive”.

Mr Kyle added: “There will be no surprise when it comes to where I stand in the political spectrum.

“I don’t know if either main party can survive the massive challenges they face in the long term.

“The only thing I know for sure is I will always be on the side of the community that elected me.”

In 2016, the ex-chairman of Brighton and Hove’s Labour Party was filmed telling a crowd of Momentum supporters the best tactics for deselecting the Hove and Portslade MP.

A petition by activists which called for his deselection was signed by 624 people.

The following year, the Brighton Labour Party passed a motion that said all prospective Parliamentary candidates – including sitting MPs – would be subject to a reselection vote by local activists.

Mr Kyle held the constituency in the 2017 General Election.

Many believe he could potentially face a reselection battle in the build-up to the next one. But for now, Mr Kyle said he is “100 per cent focused” on his Brexit compromise agreement. His compromise is where the public would have to approve any Brexit deal in a final vote.

He said: “I’m not giving a blank cheque to anyone but right now my job is work within the Labour Party to deliver a compromise agreement and end this Brexit nightmare. That’s what the community wants from me, so that’s what I’m focused on. Brexit is the biggest threat to our wellbeing and I haven’t had a moment thinking about my career or position in politics recently.”

Yesterday, the Labour MP for Kemptown, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, said potential defections could “betray Brighton and Hove” and “history might not forgive” those who have already left.