Corbyn orders Labour MPs to back Brexit bill

JEREMY Corbyn has ordered his MPs to back the Brexit bill in its final House of Commons stage, a Labour source has said.

The move paves the way for Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 by her end of March deadline, formally beginning the process of leaving the European Union.

Mr Corbyn’s decision to impose a three-line whip on Wednesday’s vote also risks the resignation of highprofile shadow cabinet ministers like Clive Lewis.

The decision to back the Brexit bill was agreed by the shadow cabinet on Tuesday.

There was a heated debate over the issue at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday after 47 MPs defied Mr Corbyn and voted against the bill at the first stage of its passage through the Commons last week.