Starmer facing revolt as he tells Labour MPs to vote for package

sir Keir starmer faces the threat of frontbench resignations after ordering his MPs to vote for the EU trade deal.

The Labour leader said it was a ‘thin agreement’ – but that his party would back it as it was the only alternative to No Deal.

But a rebellion at next Wednesday’s Commons vote is certain, and senior Labour figures expect a number of shadow ministers to quit rather than vote in favour.

it was reported yesterday that shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds is among those who have raised internal objections to the decision taken by sir Keir in recent weeks.

While neither she nor any other members of the shadow cabinet are likely to walk over the issue, a number of more junior frontbench figures could join other Labour MPs voting against, abstaining or even stepping down.

it emerged last night that several Labour MPs had warned, in a briefing for the Parliamentary

Party, that they could not endorse the agreement. rupa Huq, Kevin Brennan, Neil Coyle, Geraint Davies and Clive Efford were among those reported to have criticised the deal.

sir Keir’s decision means it is certain to pass through the Commons.

speaking on Christmas Eve, he said: ‘At a moment of such national significance, it is just not credible for Labour to be on the sidelines. That is why i can say today that when this deal comes before Parliament, Labour will accept it and vote for it.

‘But let me be absolutely clear – and say directly to the Government – up against No Deal, we accept this deal, but the consequences of it are yours.’ He said No Deal would lead to ‘devastating’ social, economic and political consequences, and said it was not right for Labour to abstain.

sir Keir denied the suggestion that the decision to vote for the deal was an attempt to appease swathes of Brexit-supporting Labour voters. He said: ‘These are difficult and tough decisions. But in the end there is only one choice – a binary choice here.

‘Either we support the deal or we support the alternative, which is No Deal. We have always been against No Deal and that is why we will vote for this deal. i think many people will see this as a tough but necessary decision on behalf of the Labour Party, the Labour movement and on behalf of our country.’ The issue has exposed deep splits in the Labour movement.

Ben Bradshaw, a former Labour minister who was one of sir Keir’s earliest backers for the leadership, has said that he risked making his ‘first mistake’. He warned last month that Labour members ‘will find it hard to understand whipping Labour MPs to support a Boris Johnson Brexit deal’.