Labour leadership contender Clive Lewis to tell Jeremy Corbyn he will have to defy his orders and vote against the Brexit Bill
Sources claim he will say he can’t back the legislation without 'meaningful' concessions from the Government
LABOUR leadership contender Clive Lewis will today tell Jeremy Corbyn he will have to defy him and vote against the Brexit Bill.
Sources last night claimed the Shadow Business Secretary will say he can’t back a vote handing Theresa May the power to trigger EU divorce talks without “meaningful” concessions from the Government.
This means he will face the sack if Mr Corbyn repeats a three-line whip ordering the party to back the Brexit Bill introduced by the PM in another crunch vote tomorrow.
Last night Labour chief whip Nick Brown told the party’s MPs he expected the leader to be “consistent”, and once more urge the party not to block it.
Three Shadow Ministers resigned last week when the Brexit Bill was first introduced in the Commons, and another 10 of the hapless leftie’s frontbenchers defied his edict to back the Article 50 legislation.
Sources claimed Mr Lewis wants the Government to give MPs a “final say” on the Brexit deal agreed with EU leaders in two years’ time. One ally said: “He doesn’t want to hand Theresa May a blank cheque.”
The row came as Mr Corbyn faced a furious revolt from Labour MPs for failing to punish close ally Diane Abbott for ignoring his 3 line whip last week.
The Shadow Home Secretary sparked outrage last Thursday by ducking the historic vote in the Commons – claiming she had to go home with a migraine. The Sun revealed two MPs battling cancer were able to vote.
One MP last night said: “Diane’s position is untenable”. Another said the inaction over Diane Abbott could ultimately save Clive Lewis – seen as a potential successor as Labour leader.
Manuel Cortes of the powerful TSSA union last night issued a last ditch plea for Labour not to vote for the Brexit Bill unless it guarantees the rights of workers and EU nationals.
The general secretary – who has backed Jeremy Corbyn in both of his leadership elections- said Labour had to “do the right thing”.
He said: “The idea of the Tories deploying the threat of mass deportation of EU families living here as a negotiating ace is unacceptable.
“That alone should be enough to prove why waving through an un-amended Tory Brexit Bill is a big mistake.”