Corbyn backs down after telling Labour MPs they must back Conservative Brexit plans

by Dan Surrey

Jeremy Corbyn has backed down after telling Labour MPs they will be forced to vote in favour of triggering Article 50.

Mr Corbyn had suggested he would impose a three-line whip – the strongest sanction possible – after a number of shadow frontbench MPs said they would vote against Brexit.

However, just hours after he said he would implement the whip on Labour MPs, Mr Corbyn and his aides said that no decision on the party’s stance had been reached.

It is likely the Government will call a vote on the matter in the House of Commons next week, once the Supreme Court delivers it’s decision on whether the Prime Minister needs the permission of MPs to trigger Article 50.

MPs could block Brexit by not voting for Article 50 but it is unlikely that enough of them will decide in favour of voting against it.

Clive Lewis, the shadow business secretary, was amongst those who said he would refuse to support Article 50 because he doesn’t believe it is “in the best interests” of his constituents.

Labour’s position on Brexit has long been unclear with Mr Corbyn refusing to commit to either side up until the later stages of the campaigning. Critics questioned the sincerity of his support to remaining within the EU, and his leadership has been under heavy scrutiny since.

Mr Corbyn’s leadership was called into question following the Brexit vote last year and led to a challenge on his position from Owen Smith.

While Mr Smith was unsuccessful in his bid to become leader, this latest incident of indecisiveness will call into question his ability to lead once again.

Mr Corbyn told the BBC that it was “very clear the referendum made a decision that Britain is to leave the European Union.

“I have made it very clear that the Labour Party accepts and respects the decision of the British people.

“We will not block Article 50.”

When asked whether he would impose a three-line whip on Labour MPs, requiring them to back Article 50, he said: “All Labour MPs will be asked to vote in that direction next week or whenever the vote comes up.”

Some Labour MPs, including Mike Gapes, who has been a strong critic of Mr Corbyn in the past, told the Ilford Recorder that he would not be following the desires of his party’s leader.

“I am going to vote against triggering Article 50 and let me be clear, I am going to be as loyal to Jeremy Corbyn as he was to previous leaders.”