Labour has been forced into a U-turn on the government’s Brexit immigration bill after a decision to abstain from the vote was met with anger from MPs.
Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, sparked a backlash among Labour MPs and members when she confirmed the frontbench would not vote against the legislation.
But less than two hours later, amid growing outrage over the decision, the party dramatically shifted its position and said it would whip its MPs to vote against it.
Several Labour MPs had already said they would be voting against the bill, regardless of their leadership’s position, including former Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna.
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Labour MP Chris Leslie said the frontbench had “thrown away” the chance to defeat the government on the bill, describing the situation as an “utter shambles”.
After the party’s position shifted, Mr Leslie wrote on Twitter: “It’s is still on a one-line whip - which means Labour frontbench have just thrown away the chance to defeat the Government on flagship #ImmigrationBill.
“An utter shambles and no point trying to deny it.”
Mr Umunna wrote: “Just been informed that we are now being ‘1 line’ whipped to vote against the Immigration Bill this evening. This is welcome and overdue.
“Totally agree with all those saying it should be a 3 line whip to vote against. As I said earlier, I was voting against regardless of the whip.”
Ms Abbott had previously called the Bill "one of the flimsiest pieces of legislation" she had ever. She added: "However, we reserve the right to reconsider our position on this legislation when it comes out of committee."
She said the initial decision was due to Labour's 2017 election manifesto, which promised that the UK would leave the EU single market and therefore means an end to freedom of movement too.
Before the U-turn, Ms Abbott said she was a "slavish devotee of that magnificent document", adding: "So on that basis the front bench of the Labour Party will not be opposing this Bill this evening."
