Jeremy Corbyn forced to sack four frontbenchers after they rebel against him in bid to keep UK in single market
49 Labour MPs defied the party leader to support an amendment to the Queen's Speech
JEREMY CORBYN was tonight forced to sack four shadow ministers after dozens of his MPs rebelled against Labour’s position on Brexit.
Backbencher Chuka Umunna proposed an amendment to the Queen’s Speech which argued for Britain to stay in the EU customs union and single market.
Mr Corbyn ordered his MPs to abstain on the motion - but 49 of them defied him and voted for Mr Umunna’s amendment.
Among the rebels were four Labour frontbenchers - Andy Slaughter, Ruth Cadbury, Daniel Zeichner and Catherine West.
It came as Lyn Brown also quit the Labour frontbench after reports she fell out with Corbyn-ally Diane Abbott.
She had temporarily stood in for Ms Abbott as Shadow Home Secretary during her illness earlier this month.
Last night’s rebellion exposes Mr Corbyn’s failure to unite his party over a common position on Brexit and leaves the left-winger with more vacancies in his top team.
He will be forced to carry out another reshuffle next week.
If ministers or shadow ministers defy the party line in Parliament, they are usually sacked immediately or forced to resign.
Mr Zeichner announced after the vote that he was quitting as shadow transport minister, saying: “I'm a passionate pro-European and straightforward politician so I've taken hard decision to resign as shadow minister to back single market.”
The other three rebels were sacked by Mr Corbyn as he attempts to keep his party in line over Brexit.
A total of 101 MPs voted for Mr Umunna’s motion, with 322 opposing it.
The amendment came up in the Commons shortly before the main Queen’s Speech vote, which was passed with a majority of 14 as the Tories and DUP swung behind Theresa May.
Labour’s manifesto called for a clean break with the EU, taking Britain out of the single market in order to end free movement of people around Europe.
But many of the party’s MPs are passionately anti-Brexit and keen to maintain close ties with the EU.
The Tories tonight mocked the divisions in Labour. MP James Cleverly said: "When it comes to Brexit, Labour are in total chaos - there is deep division at the heart of the Labour Party on the most crucial issue facing the country today – they still can’t agree on the fundamentals and would get the worst Brexit deal at the highest price.
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“Whilst Jeremy Corbyn’s chaotic team bicker over their position on Brexit we’re getting on with the job of government - delivering on the will of the British people and building a stronger economy so we can improve people’s living standards and fund public services.”
But Nigel Farage praised the Labour leader for cracking down on his pro-EU MPs.
He said on Twitter: "Corbyn showing his true Brexit colours. He's almost a proper chap."
But outgoing Lib Dem leader Tim Farron hit out at Mr Corbyn for betraying Labour’s Remain voters.
He said: “Millions of people who voted for Jeremy Corbyn were hoping for a new approach to Brexit. They will be feeling utterly betrayed tonight that he has yet again failed to oppose this government’s extreme Brexit agenda.
“On the most important issue of the day, Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to sit on their hands.”
Mr Umunna said his amendment had demonstrated the strength of backing in the Commons for staying in the single market.
He said after the vote: “While it is disappointing that our amendment did not win a majority of votes in the House of Commons, what it shows is that pro-European backbench MPs of all parties are not going to simply submit to a hard Brexit.
“I and many others will continue to fight tirelessly to stop an extreme, destructive Tory hard Brexit. With a hung parliament, we have a real chance in future to shape Britain’s exit from the EU to protect jobs and working people.”