Jeremy Corbyn threatens his Shadow cabinet with the sack if they defy whip and don’t vote to trigger Brexit
Labour leader said it would be "obviously impossible" for rebels to stay on after "frank and long discussions"
JEREMY Corbyn warned his Shadow Cabinet yesterday they faced the sack if they voted against triggering the start of Britain’s divorce from the EU.
The Labour leader said it would be “impossible” for them to carry on in their jobs.
He is facing an exodus from his front bench following two resignations – with more expected.
Shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis and Shadow Environment Secretary Rachael Maskell have both signalled they may vote against triggering Article 50.
Mr Corbyn also revealed he will back the Brexit vote – even if he doesn’t secure the amendments Labour have asked for.
He told ITV’s Peston on Sunday: “It’s obviously impossible to carry on being in the shadow cabinet if you vote against a decision made after a very frank and long discussion of the shadow cabinet earlier this week.”
Questioned whether he would expect Labour MPs to vote for the bill if no amendments succeeded, he added: “What I have said is, we would vote to implement article 50, we wouldn’t block it. I’ve made that very clear.”
But it came as deputy leader Tom Watson suggested frontbenchers who quit could be brought back “within months” over the weekend.
Mr Watson said Jo Stevens – who quit last week as Shadow Welsh secretary – had a great future in the party.
He said: “I hope that those colleagues who feel they need to leave the front bench because they feel strongly that they have to represent the interests of their voters don’t feel that this is the end.
“I hope that Jo Stevens will be back on the frontbenches in the months and years ahead.”
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