Labour ‘chaos’ over failing to sack rebel

JEREMY Corbyn was accused yesterday of “insulting” voters and offering “chaos” on the Labour policy over leaving the EU.

Brexit minister Steve Baker spoke after Labour failed to sack a member of its House of Lords frontbench when he defied orders to not back a second referendum.

Shadow health minister Lord Hunt of King’s Heath voted on a Lib Dem-led amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. It would pave the way for the public to have a vote on the final Brexit deal with Brussels.

Labour’s official policy is not to advocate a second referendum. Lord Hunt was reprimanded by his leadership but kept his job. Mr Baker tweeted: “Labour are allowing their frontbench to face in multiple directions on Brexit.

“Their incoherence is an insult to voters, whether they voted Leave or Remain. Once again, Labour offers chaos.”

Mr Baker had earlier said Labour must sack Lord Hunt if it wanted “to be taken seriously as a party which respects the decision the people took in the referendum”.

“All their behaviour to this date has shown a determination to disrupt a successful Brexit, but failure to act now would demonstrate a contempt for those who voted for it,” he added.

The Government won the vote against a second referendum, by 260 to 202, but Lord Hunt was one of 51 Labour peers who defied party orders.

Frontbenchers have an obligation not to break ranks.

Sources said Lord Hunt was hauled before Labour’s Lords leader Baroness Smith of Basildon for “a full and frank discussion. He remains on the frontbench.”

They insisted such rebellions were not “unusual” in the House of Lords.