Blow to Corbyn as six resign over order to abstain
JEREMY Corbyn suffered a new blow last night as six Labour MPs quit official roles to join 90 defying his orders to abstain on a Brexit vote.
Mr Corbyn had told his team not to take part in a vote to overturn a Lords bid to make Government negotiators seek a deal to stay in the European Economic Area, or EEA. Peers wrote the idea into the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.
Mr Corbyn had proposed an alternative requiring ministers to aim for the UK to have “full access to the internal market of the EU” during talks. This was defeated by 322 votes to 240, majority 82.
The Government then won by 327 votes to 126, majority 201, its call for MPs to defeat the Lords’ EEA amendment.
There were 74 defiant Labour MPs, plus one who sits as an independent, voting to uphold the Lords’ amendment and 15 voting with the Government to strike it down.
Earlier, Laura Smith quit as Shadow Cabinet Office minister, tweeting that she did so to vote in her constituents’ interests.
Ged Killen, Ellie Reeves, Tonia Antoniazzi, Rosie Duffield and Anna McMorrin all quit as aides to frontbenchers so they could vote with backbenchers.
Mr Corbyn said he knew the “difficulties” facing MPs in strong Leave or Remain areas.
Labour MPs opposing the Lords included Caroline Flint, who said EEA members must accept free movement.