Labour loses thousands of party members after Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to back Brexit and vote to trigger Article
Over a fifth of the Labour leader's MPs defied his wishes earlier this week and voted against the Government's Brexit bill
MORE than 7,000 people have QUIT the Labour Party in the last week after Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to back triggering Article 50.
Over a fifth of the Labour leader's MPs defied his wishes earlier this week and voted against the Government's Brexit bill.
Ten frontbenchers and three whips were among 47 MPs who rebelled against Mr Corbyn in a chaotic night for the party.
Overall the Bill passed through to the next stage, with 498 MPs backing it, and 114 opposing.
A handful of Shadow frontbenchers resigned before the vote itself - as they were not prepared to back Labour's position. The rest of the rebels have yet to face punishment for defying their leader's orders.
Activists said there was a "feeling of betrayal" among those who voted for him - who now thought he had given up his principles.
For many members, supporting Remaining in the EU was a requirement of their support. But Mr Corbyn opted to whip his MPs to vote with the Government to start Brexit talks - and told people the party "respected the result of the referendum".
Labour's chaotic position on Brexit has angered both Remainers and Leavers - leaving desperate MPs stuck in the middle.
Mr Corbyn admitted his MPs were in a "difficult position" as Labour voters were among the most pro-Remain constituencies, and the most pro-Leave.
Party figures are desperate not to alienate traditional Leave voters in the North who voted to Leave - but this approach has put off many of the pro-EU members.
Labour has seen a boom in its membership since Mr Corbyn became leader - and now has around half a million members.