Brexit is ‘national suicide’: Labour rebel’s shock rant after defying whip over Article 50

Stephen Pound raged against Wednesday night’s Article 50 vote, as he claimed any sane person would oppose the will of the British people.

Despite some Remain MPs desperately trying to thwart the UK’s exit from the bloc, Brexiteers managed to secure a huge victory at Westminster as Parliament gave its final approval for Theresa May to trigger Article 50.

MPs voted 494 to 122 in favour of approving the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which will now proceed to the House of Lords.

It followed an evening of disappointment and frustration for Westminster Europhiles, who saw several amendments rejected in a series of votes.

GETTY

Stephen Pound raged against Wednesday night’s Article 50 vote

Related articles

• EU leader offers olive branch to UK for GOOD Brexit deal
• MEPs dismiss Brexit as they approve plans for EU military HQ

Speaking to talkRADIO, a bitter Mr Pound grumbled it was a dark day and day as he launched an astonishing rant against the landmark decision to abandon Brussels.

As radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer asked how the Labour Party MP voted, he said: “I voted like any sane sensible person… against this insanity, this national suicide trying of trying to cut ourselves adrift from near the biggest market in the world and our friends, neighbours in the rest of Europe.

“It’s dangerous lunacy and I voted in line with my constituency who wanted to remain. I wanted to remain, I voted to remain and I got mullered.”

Hartley-Brewer challenged Mr Pound as she asked what he would have done if he represented a Leave constituency.

GETTY

Clive Lewis resigned amid the vote as he told fellow MPs that he 'could not vote on the issue'

I voted like any sane sensible person… against this insanity

Stephen Pound

To which the Europhile said: “I’ve thought about this quite a bit, I feel so strongly about this that I think I would have consulted with them and actually resigned as an MP rather than vote for it.

“Quite frankly you’ve got to represent your constituency, you have a duty to do so.”

He added: “If you can’t represent and reflect the concerns of your constituents, frankly you shouldn’t be doing the job."

The attack on Brexit comes as Labour was plunged into further chaos on Wednesday as shadow business secretary Clive Lewis resigned from the Labour front bench as he told fellow MPs he could not follow the party's three-line whip.

Mr Lewis became the fourth shadow cabinet minister to abandon his post as Mrs May prepares to negotiate the UK’s future outside the bloc.

REMOANERS: These people hate BREXIT! Mon, January 16, 2017

Remainers are finding it hard to accept Brexit.

AFP/Getty Images 1 of 14

NICK CLEGG

Explaining the decision to defy Jeremy Corbyn, he said in a statement: "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."

Mr Lewis added that working with the shadow cabinet and Labour Party leader My Corbyn had "been a privilege."

Related articles

• Nicola Sturgeon humiliated and left squirming at FMQs over education
• EU leader offers olive branch to UK for GOOD Brexit deal
• MEPs dismiss Brexit as they approve plans for EU military HQ