Labour Article 50 Rebels Will Receive Written Warning Over Vote

A 'final warning' to Brexit rebels.
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PA/PA Wire

Frontbench Labour rebels who defied Jeremy Corbyn over the Brexit Bill will not get the sack, but a written warning.

The reprimand emerged after Corbyn considered what disciplinary action would follow after 52 MPs ignored the leader’s orders and voted against triggering Article 50.

The light touch reaction was put down to the “extraordinary circumstances” of the referendum aftermath, according to Labour sources.

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The reprimand emerged after Corbyn considered what disciplinary action would follow after 52 MPs ignored his orders
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Some shadow ministers quit their frontbench roles in response to Corbyn’s orders on the vote.

Rebels will receive a written warning, and will be expected not to defy a three-line whip again.

Labour sources told the Press Association that Corbyn believes it will “not be viable” for someone to remain in the Shadow Cabinet if they ignore another three-line whip.

Corbyn is clear that this is the “final warning” to Brexit rebels on the issue, the source said.

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Clive Lewis quit his frontbench role over the vote, and has since dismissed claims he touted for support to topple Corbyn
Yui Mok/PA Wire

Corbyn met his chief whip, seasoned party veteran Nick Brown, on Friday to discuss how to discipline wayward MPs, the Guardian reported.

He was said by allies to have advised a cautious approach.

The 11 frontbenchers who voted against the Bill in its final Commons stage without quitting their jobs were:

Rosena Allin-Khan;

Kevin Brennan;

Lyn Brown;

Ruth Cadbury;

Rupa Huq;

Chi Onwurah;

Stephen Pound;

Andy Slaughter;

Catherine West;

Alan Whitehead;

and Daniel Zeichner.

The Labour leader was forced to reshuffle his top team after a number of members quit ahead of voting against triggering Article 50.

However, 11 shadow ministers, and three whips, remained in their posts despite defying the leader’s command.

A large swathe of the parliamentary party ignored Corbyn’s orders and tried to stop the Brexit Bill passing on Wednesday.