Brexit crisis for Corbyn (cont.)
Second woman quits his front bench within 48 hours More face sack in revolt over Article 50
LABOUR was in disarray over Brexit last night after a shadow cabinet minister resigned rather than back the referendum result in a Commons vote next week.
Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens said that as a ‘passionate European’ she could not vote in favour of triggering Article 50.
She became the second frontbencher to resign in 48 hours after Jeremy Corbyn imposed a three-line whip to vote for a Bill that will give Theresa May authority to begin the process of leaving the EU.
Shadow education minister Tulip Siddiq resigned on Thursday night, saying she could not support the vote to leave.
Daniel Zeichner, shadow transport minister, and shadow foreign office minister Catherine West warned they will vote against Article 50, as have whips Jeff Smith and Thangam Debbonaire.
All six MPs voted in favour of the referendum, but say they cannot back the result, prompting Tory MP Stewart Jack-
‘Palpable rage’
son to brand them ‘democracy deniers’. Labour sources last night indicated rebels would be sacked from the front bench if they defied Mr Corbyn in Wednesday night’s vote.
But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the party could drop its support for triggering Article 50 if the Government refuses to accept amendments that would force Mrs May to go back to the negotiating table if MPs reject the deal she gets from Brussels.
Miss Abbott said the party leadership had ‘a lot of sympathy’ with rebel MPs but Labour had a duty to respect the referendum result.
She added that, if they did not, ‘it would look as if elites were refusing to listen … How could MPs vote for a referendum and then turn around and say, “It went the wrong way so we are ignoring it?”’
But she said the party would ‘review our position’ if its amendments were rejected in a series of Commons votes next month.
Senior Labour MP Meg Hillier said there was ‘ palpable rage’ among party members about Mr Corbyn’s decision to back the Government on Article 50.
Former leadership contender Owen Smith said up to 50 MPs could defy Mr Corbyn next week. In her resignation letter, Miss Stevens claimed she accepted the referendum result, but added: ‘I believe that leaving is a terrible mistake and I cannot reconcile my overwhelming view that to endorse the step that will make exit inevitable is wrong.’
Mr Zeichner said he had told Mr Corbyn’s team of his intentions.
‘They know my position and they understand exactly why I’m doing what I’m doing … it’s for them to decide what to do next,’ he told the Cambridge News. Miss Debbonaire said she was prepared to lose her job as a whip to represent her pro-Remain constituency.
‘I have always said I would be minded to vote against Article 50 if it meant leaving the single market,’ she told the Bristol Post. Jeff Smith said: ‘My constituents voted strongly for Remain and I think it’s impor- tant to represent their view.’ Mr Corbyn said last night: ‘Those MPs with strong Remain constituencies are understandably torn. However, it is right that the Labour Party respects the outcome of the referendum on leaving the European Union.’
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson will today urge the party to embrace the ‘opportunities’ of Brexit, saying it provides the chance for a ‘Buy British’ drive.