Brexit: Labour frontbenchers resign after defying Jeremy Corbyn’s orders and opposing fresh referendum

Three shadow ministers and one party whip step down after voting against Final Say poll

Four Labour MPs have resigned from the party’s frontbench after defying Jeremy Corbyn’s orders and voting against a fresh Brexit referendum.

The Labour leader had whipped his MPs to abstain on the vote but dozens broke ranks, with 24 voting for a fresh public vote and 17 voting against.

Shadow ministers Yvonne Fovargue, Emma Lewell-Buck and Justin Madders, plus party whip Stephanie Peacock, all voted against the motion and later resigned.

Mr Corbyn is reported to have asked them to step down or face being sacked.

Earlier in the day, Stoke-on-Trent North MP Ruth Smeeth, a parliamentary aide to deputy leader Tom Watson, also resigned so she could oppose another referendum.

Labour says it supports the option of a fresh referendum as one way to avoid ”a damaging Tory Brexit” or a no-deal outcome, but ordered its MPs not to take part in the vote on a motion, tabled by the Independent Group’s Sarah Wollaston, that called for a Final Say vote.

The amendment was comprehensively defeated as Labour MPs abstained and many supporters of a People’s Vote also refused to take part, saying they were waiting to support another pro-referendum motion next week.

Shadow communities minister Ms Fovargue, shadow health minister Mr Madders and shadow children and families minister Ms Lewell-Buck all quit their roles shortly after the vote.

Ms Peacock also resigned as a whip, telling Mr Corbyn in a letter: “I was elected on the Labour manifesto that pledged to respect the result of the 2016 EU referendum. The people of Barnsley elected me to honour that promise and that is what I did tonight.

“I felt in all good conscience I had to vote tonight to clearly rule out any form of second referendum. I believe the people spoke in 2016 and we need to enact their decision.”

Ms Smeeth said: “This was a difficult decision but I have a duty to support the will of my constituents. We need to leave, and leave with a deal that works for the Potteries.”

Responding to the resignations, Mr Corbyn said: “I would like to thank Yvonne, Emma, Ruth, Justin and Stephanie for their service while on the Labour frontbench.

“I understand the difficulties MPs have felt representing the views of their constituents during this process.”

Many Labour MPs supportive of a Final Say vote abstained on Ms Wollaston’s motion because they believe the best way to push for another referendum is through an alternative Commons amendment being drawn up by Labour backbenchers Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson. The plan would see parliament vow to withhold support for Theresa May’s Brexit deal until she has put it to a public vote.

Labour has said it is likely to back the proposal, and senior shadow cabinet ministers, including Mr Corbyn, held talks with the two MPs on Thursday.

A Labour spokesperson said: “This afternoon Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, Nick Brown and Keir Starmer had a useful and constructive discussion with Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson as part of Labour’s engagement with MPs across parliament to find a practical solution to break the Brexit deadlock.”