Corbyn is rocked by a major Brexit revolt as SIX of Labour's top team resign and 89 rebel following orders to abstain in vote on staying in the EU single market

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Six senior Labour front-benchers resigned tonight as Jeremy Corbyn was rocked by the biggest Brexit rebellion to hit his party.

The Labour leader had demanded his MPs abstain on a vote about whether Britain should seek to join the European Economic Area after leaving the EU.

However 89 Labour members refused to follow the orders - with 15 backing the government, who easily won the vote rejecting the idea. More than 70 Labour MPs voted 'yes'.

Joining the EEA after Brexit would leave Britain inside the single market - defying the referendum, according to Brexiteers, as it would mean accepting free movement and not making trade deals. 

Resigned: Labour frontbencher Ged killen with Jeremy Corbyn

The Labour disarray left Corbyn's team unable to capitalise on Brexit chaos inside the Government after Theresa May narrowly avoided defeat on Brexit earlier in the week.  

Laura Smith resigned as a shadow Cabinet Office minister, while Ged Killen, Ellie Reeves, Tonia Antoniazzi, Rosie Duffield and Anna McMorrin all quit as parliamentary aides.

Mr Corbyn thanked all the MPs for working on the front but stood by Labour policy of withdrawing from the single market and staying outside the EEA.

The Government won 327 to 201. Three Conservatives - Anna Soubry, Ken Clarke and Dominic Grieve - broken the Tory whip to vote in favour of the EEA. 

Mr Corbyn (pictured in the Commons today) has warned that Labour 'cannot settle' for a Norway-style deal for the UK

Laura Smith, Rosie Duffield and Ellie Reeves (file images from left) were among those to quit Labour's front bench tonight 

Labour MPs Ged Killen, Tonia Antoniazzi and Anna McMorrin also resigned to defy orders the European Economic Area 

The Labour leader said: 'I understand the difficulties MPs representing constituencies which voted strongly for Leave or Remain have on the EEA amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

'The Labour Party respects the outcome of the EU referendum and does not support the EEA or Norway model as it is not the right for option for Britain. It would leave us with next to no say over rules we have to follow, it does not allow us to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union and it fails to resolve the Irish border issue.

'But we are not voting with the Government on this amendment because the Conservatives offer no plan for securing the full tariff free access to the EU's internal market, which is so vital for jobs and living standards in our country.'

Labour's version of an EEA policy was defeated as expected 322 to 240.

During today's debate, Labour MP Chuka Umunna said he will defy the whip and vote in favour of the Lords' amendment which obliges the Government to prioritise staying in the European Economic Area.

Mr Umunna added that leaving the EEA would not solve problems which had been played out as the fault of free movement and immigration during the referendum campaign.

The Streatham MP said: 'Curbing Commonwealth immigration then and ending EU free movement now did and is not going to solve these problems and we know it.

Some rebels expect 60 MPs to defy orders from Mr Corbyn (pictured today) to abstain in the key division on an amendment to the Brexit Bill in the Commons later

'That is why Labour governments have always addressed these problems by properly funding the NHS, by having a national minimum wage, investing in our schools and so on.

'That is why I will be voting for my frontbench's amendment but also the Lords' amendment too.'

Former Europe Minister Pat McFadden said the UK economy was dominated by services governed by common rules and regulations and not by tariffs.

Referring to the EEA (European Economic Area) he said: 'So it seems to me that the idea of taking the only existing model of full participation in the single market while not being a member of the European Union off the table would be an unwise and a rash thing to do.

'It covers both goods and services and it has in it workers' rights and other consumers' rights... Would we rather have those workers' rights enshrined in an international treaty or entrusted to the tender care of the members of the European Research Group that have railed against European regulation.'

Former Europe Minister Pat McFadden (pictured during today's debate) said the UK economy was dominated by services governed by common rules and regulations and not by tariffs - meaning the single market was crucial 

Labour MP Chuka Umunna said he will defy the whip and vote in favour of the  European Economic Area. Yvette Cooper said she would follow orders - but sympathised with those who took a different view (both are pictured during today's debate) 

Home Affairs Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper said she would follow the whip tonight - but supported those who made a different decision.

She warned against a 'Dad's Army version of Brexit' and said the UK is in danger of 'turning ourselves into a national joke' by not focusing on the real issues.

Ms Cooper added she believes there is a majority across the country and Government in favour of a 'close economic relationship', which means some version of single market participation - or as close as the UK can get to it. 
 Theresa May survived a major battle last night over whether Parliament should get a 'meaningful vote' on any final package with the EU. However, Tory rebels are threatening to come back to the issue at a later stage.

The Labour leadership has tried to defuse the looming EEA row by tabling its own amendment to the Bill aimed at delivering the 'same benefits' as single market membership.

But the move infuriated many Labour MPs who said it stands no chance of passing the Commons and merely guaranteed that the Lords measure would be defeated.

MPs are due to vote another eight times on Brexit legislation later tonight as wrangling continues over flagship Brexit laws 

The Lords amendment spells out that the government should be seeking a Norway-style deal with the EU - potentially meaning free movement would stay in place.

Without support from either main party frontbench, it has no chance of surviving. 

But senior backbencher Hilary Benn said this morning that he would be among those voting in favour of the change passed by the Lords to the flagship legislation. 

'It is really important to keep our options open,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 

The pressure on the Labour leadership to change tack mounted last night as its Northern Ireland sister party, the SDLP, wrote to all MPs urging them to support EEA membership.

'While we understand and appreciate that there has been good work and efforts made to move to a position of alignment with the European internal market - the SDLP stresses that the removal of the EEA from the draft text of the bill will represent a weakening of this position - and will risk a hard border in Ireland,' SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said.

'The SDLP urges all MPs to support the Lord's amendment to remain in the EEA - we don't just need a vision for a better negotiation strategy, we need it to be a plan.'

Mr Corbyn warned yesterday that Labour 'cannot settle' for a Norway-style deal for the UK.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer admitted last week that the party was 'very divided' over Brexit

'We cannot settle for this. Labour will only vote for a final Brexit deal if it delivers a strong relationship with the Single Market based on full tariff-free access and ensures no loss of rights and standards,' he said. 

'Together with a new customs union, that would ensure a strong and balanced package to protect UK jobs and living standards, put a floor under rights and protections and ensure no hard border.' 

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer admitted last week that the party was 'very divided' over Brexit.

Asked why it had decided not to back the amendment on the EEA, Sir Keir acknowledged the party was hopelessly split.

'The difficulty with that, and I think everybody recognises this, is that there are very strong and very different views across the Parliamentary Labour Party on that particular amendment,' he said.

'So, whilst there's unity on all the other (amendments) and we will all be voting together, on that amendment there are very divided views.

How has Labour's position on Brexit shifted since the election?

Critics say Jeremy Corbyn is even more determined than the government to have his cake and eat it on Brexit

Labour's Brexit stance has undergone so many changes it can be difficult to keep track.

Even during the referendum in 2016 Jeremy Corbyn was accused of half-hearted campaigning and hedging his bets - admitting he was only '7 out of 10' in favour of Remain.  

SInce then the leadership has been trying to maintain 'constructive ambiguity' so it can keep hold of heartland voters who often back Brexit - without alienating the party's largely Remainer members and MPs.

But critics say Mr Corbyn is even more determined than the government to have his cake and eat it, and has no real answers to what shape Brexit should take.

The latest version of Labour's Brexit policy is due to be voted on at the 2018 conference. Official policy says there should be a new general election but if this is impossible, the party could back a new referendum. 

SECOND REFERENDUM

Last September Mr Watson said the party was 'not ruling it out, but it's highly unlikely'.

But in November, letters emerged from shadow home secretary Diane Abbott to constituents saying she would 'argue for the right of the electorate to vote on any deal that is finally agreed'.

In December, Mr Corbyn said 'We've not made any decision on a second referendum.'

But by January this year he was stating: 'We are not supporting or calling for a second referendum. What we've called for is a meaningful vote in Parliament.'

Numerous backbenchers have said they want to see a second referendum on a Brexit deal. 

By conference 2018 internal debate over a second referendum prompted more than 150 different motions on the issue. A 'composited' version invites members to back a new general election but leave a 'People's Vote' on the table.

Senior Labour figures have split on what any second referendum should mean - with some, such as Len McCluskey and John McDonnell insisting remaining in the EU cannot be on the ballot - but Sir Keir Starmer has said the motion means it could be. 

In December last year, Sir Keir Starmer said he would like a 'Norway-style treaty' and as a result 'there may have to be payments to be negotiated'

SINGLE MARKET

After the election in June last year, Mr Corbyn sacked three frontbenchers for voting in favour of a Commons motion calling for the UK to stay in the single market.

The same month shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: 'I think people will interpret membership of the single market as not respecting that referendum.'

However, the following September Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said single market membership was possible 'if the European Union wanted to talk about reform of freedom of movement rules'.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the party wants 'a partnership that retains the benefits of the single market and the customs union'.

Labour whipped its peers to abstain from a vote in favour of the single market earlier this month, but the instructions were largely ignored and many backed the idea. 

Mr Corbyn briefed MPs on his single market stance at a behind closed doors meeting on May 14. But they did not seem entirely clear on his position, with one backbencher emerging to say he had left the prospect open, but another saying he had made clear the option was 'dead'.

A massive rebellion is expected in a Commons vote that could happen next month.

CUSTOMS UNION

Shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner said in July 2017 that staying in the EU customs union would be a 'disaster' as it would entail an 'asymmetrical relationship' and damage Britain's ability to make deals with other countries.

But in February this year Sir Keir confirmed that the party wants to stay in a customs union with the bloc - although not the current one because that would mean EU membership. He said 'the only way realistically' for the UK to get tariff-free access to the EU.

The following month Emily Thornberry said Labour wanted to maintain the existing customs union.

Last month Barry Gardiner was caught on mic giving a withering assessment of Labour's six tests for approving a Brexit deal, saying they were 'b*****cks'

'What we want to do is we want to remain in the customs union,' she said. 'We don't want any faffing around with any of the nonsense that the Government is coming up with in relation to alternatives to the customs union. We want to remain in the customs union.' 

Last month Mr Gardiner was caught on mic giving a withering assessment of Labour's six tests for approving a Brexit deal, saying they were 'b*****cks'.

'We know very well that we cannot have the exact same benefits,' he said.

Mr Gardiner has also suggested that fears over the Irish border are being whipped up for 'political' reasons. 

PAYING FOR ACCESS TO MARKETS

In December last year, Sir Keir said he would like a 'Norway-style treaty' and as a result 'there may have to be payments to be negotiated'.

However, in January this year, John McDonnell said 'I don't understand why we would have to pay' for access to the single market.

 

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