Political reporter(wp/es):
Jeremy Corbyn faces a growing revolt over Brexit tonight as a dozen London MPs including three shadow ministers will vote against triggering Article 50.
The Labour leader has demanded that his MPs back the Government moves to leave the EU by issuing a three line whip.
But rebels include Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham Deptford and a shadow whip, who is supposed to be one of Mr Corbyn’s key enforcers of his decision.
Shadow foreign minister Catherine West, the MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, and Dr Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton and shadow home office minister, confirmed to the Evening Standard they will also be voting against triggering Article 50.
Hampstead & Kilburn MP, Tulip Siddiq, quit the frontbench in protest last week.
Dr Huq said: “It is the right thing to do and in accordance with the will of the people of Ealing Central and Acton, 70 per cent of whom wanted to remain in the European Union.
“My issue is not with Jeremy, who I’m happy to serve under, it’s with Theresa May’s hardest of hard Brexits.”
Labour refused to say whether they would sack the frontbench rebels.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, a close ally of the leader, sidestepped the question on BBC radio, saying the party was focusing instead on the needs of the country.
She told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I think that what is more important is what we talk about what is going to happen to the country. What is going to be the consequence for the country.”
Tshines a spotlight on divisions between the capital’s MPs and his tight-knit inner London leadership.
Shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler told a meeting in her Brent constituency that she had “tossed and turned” about the decision - and is still to make up her mind.
Mr Corbyn’s decision to back the Government on Article 50 is a source of immense frustration for some backbench rebels,
Bermondsey MP Neil Coyle said Labour’s frontbench had committed to the Government’s “rushed and incoherent timetable” which would see Article 50 triggered by March.
He said: “Members are rightly appalled at a frontbench acting without taking into account party policy or views.”
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said she would be voting against giving Theresa May “the green light” for hard Brexit which would take Britain out of the single market because “it isn’t the best or even a good deal for Britain”.
Mike Gapes, Ilford South MP, hailed London’s frontbench rebels today, adding: “They are brave and principled and I respect them.”
“They are committed to the interests of London,” he said. “This city will be seriously damaged if we have Threresa May style withdrawal from the single market and the customs union.”
Despite the Labour rebellion, the Government is expecting a comfortable win today, with their only known rebel, Tory grandee Ken Clarke, set to vote against the triggering of Article 50.
The real difficulty for Theresa May could come next week when amendments are thrashed out in the Commons and pro-Remain Tories such as Anna Soubry and Nicky Morgan may chose to back plans to curb the Government’s proposals.
MPs will have also had a chance to scour the Prime Minister’s long-awaited White Paper due to be delivered tomorrow and which will set out crucial negotiating priorities for leaving the EU.
This will swing the spotlight onto Mrs May’s 12 leaving terms she aims to achieve, including control over immigration, ending the European Court sway over British law, and leaving the single market.
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