Just ONE of Corbyn’s MPs was won round by Theresa
JUST one of Jeremy Corbyn’s MPs switched sides to support Theresa May’s deal after the Government ‘bribed’ them with extra cash for Labour constituencies.
Last week the Prime Minister announced a £1.6 billion ‘Stronger Towns Fund’ to boost economic growth in Brexit- supporting communities, mainly in the North.
She also held talks with trade unions to give guarantees that Brexit would not see any dilution of workers’ rights. But, despite the concessions, just three Labour MPs rebelled against their party whip by supporting the Prime Minister’s deal.
Leader Jeremy Corbyn later faced intense criticism from the Commons for calling for a general election.
Of the three Labour rebels, two had voted for the deal the last time it came before the Commons in January.
Only Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley in South Yorkshire, supported the deal after having declined to do so last time.
The two who also voted for the PM’s previous deal were John Mann and Kevin Barron. Another Labour MP, Jim Fitzpatrick, had been contemplating chang- ing his vote, but decided not to do so. After the result was announced, Mr Corbyn – who has come under fire for refusing to work constructively with Mrs May – again demanded a general election to sort out the impasse.
But he risked angering Labour supporters by making no mention of his party’s policy to hold a second referendum on whatever deal makes it through Parliament. And Tory MPs accused him of putting his party’s interests above the country’s by failing to support the deal.
Mr Corbyn said: ‘The Government has been defeated again by an enormous majority. They must now accept their deal is clearly dead and does not have the support of this House. Clearly, No Deal must be taken off the table.’
The Labour leader said the Commons had to come together with a proposal that could be negotiated, adding Labour will put forward its plans again.
Earlier in the day, Mrs Flint suggested she would be changing her vote because the Government had given extra assurances on workers’ rights.
Mr Corbyn came under fire from Tory MPs for refusing to compromise in the national interest. Rachel Maclean said: ‘Does he not recognise that millions of citizens out there are looking to his party – cross-party – to deliver the certainty that they are crying out for?’
Dr Caroline Johnson pointed out that Mr Corbyn had voted for an EU referendum and for Article 50.
‘Why is he now so intent on frustrating Brexit and the will of the people?’ she asked.
Mark Pritchard said: ‘Is this not the worst example today of pure politics – the pursuit of power and putting his party’s interests and, dare I say it, possibly his self-interests ahead of the national interest?’
Former Chancellor Ken Clarke asked: ‘Can [Mr Corbyn] explain what his objection is to the deal we have on citizens’ rights, what his objection is to the agreement on the money we owe, and what on earth is his objection to the Irish backstop that leads him to put the whole thing in peril?’
And former sports minister Helen Grant asked the Labour leader why he had refused repeated offers of meetings with the Prime Minister to discuss Brexit.
‘Intent on frustrating the will of the people’