Jeremy Corbyn branded a hypocrite for sacking Owen Smith over second Brexit vote plea — but not ex-lover Diane Abbott

JEREMY Corbyn has been branded a hypocrite for sacking an MP who echoed ex-lover Diane Abbott’s plea for a second Brexit vote.

Jezza fired Owen Smith on Friday.

Yet Shadow Home Secretary Ms Abbott, his former lover, also urged a new referendum last year.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “Getting rid of political enemies but not close friends like Diane Abbott reeks of more Labour hypocrisy.

"He isn’t fit to be PM.”

Ms Abbott wrote to constituents in November backing “the right to vote on any deal finally agreed”.

But last week she told BBC Radio 4 Labour took the Brexit result “seriously”.

She said Mr Smith, the Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, had to abide by party policy barring a second referendum.

He said: “It’s rich of her, given she did the same thing when she broadly repeated what I said.

“She recently articulated almost exactly the same views about the prospect for a people’s vote.”

Mr Smith, who challenged Mr Corbyn for leadership, was axed for claiming Labour would “serve democracy” with a new vote.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer also wants voters to be consulted a second time via a referendum or election.

But pro-Brexit MP John Mann said Mr Smith “sacked himself”.

• A WHISTLEBLOWER says Vote Leave broke election rules on a £7million budget cap by giving £625,000 to a second group it ran.

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