Corbyn loses Clive Lewis from Labour frontbench as Brexit bill passes
The shadow business secretary defies the party whip to vote against the bill triggering the process of leaving the European Union.
Thursday 9 February 2017 01:46, UK
Clive Lewis has resigned from the shadow cabinet, saying he could not bring himself to support the bill allowing Theresa May to start the process of leaving the EU.
The shadow business secretary was the fourth member of Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench to quit as the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill has passed through the Commons.
Mr Lewis said: "When I became the MP for Norwich South, I promised my constituents I would be 'Norwich's voice in Westminster, not Westminster's voice in Norwich'.
"I therefore cannot, in all good conscience, vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home.
"It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the shadow cabinet."
The resignation was announced just minutes before MPs voted by 494 to 122 to pass the bill at its third reading.
The Labour leader appeared to keep the door open for Mr Lewis's return.
"I would like to thank Clive for his work in the shadow cabinet, which has underlined what an asset he is to the Labour Party and our movement," Mr Corbyn said in response to the resignation.
"I understand the difficulties MPs representing constituencies which voted Remain have in relation to the European Union Withdrawal Bill.
"MPs have a duty to represent their constituents as well as their party.
"However, the Labour Party respects the outcome of the EU referendum, so we have asked all Labour MPs to vote for the Bill at its third reading tonight."
Mr Lewis said that working with the shadow cabinet and Mr Corbyn had "been a privilege" and that he would "continue to support our party and our leader from the back benches to the very best of my ability".
"I wish Clive well and look forward to working with him in the future."
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock told Sky News: "I think that our leader Jeremy Corbyn did the right thing in putting down a three-line whip because the country deserves to know waht the Labour party thinks about this issue.
"Once you have the three-line whip, members have got to vote with that and if they don't it is right they step down."
A Conservative Party spokesman said the resignation showed Labour was "hopelessly divided".
He added that they "can't even agree amongst themselves, let alone speak for ordinary working people".
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott supported the bill after missing the vote on the second reading due to illness.