A Labour MP has quit the frontbench just days after she was appointed to her new role after rebelling over mandatory vaccination for NHS staff, a colleague has said.
Rachael Maskell was only made shadow minister for arts, civic society and youth earlier this month, but resigned on Tuesday after voting against her party.
Mick Whitley, who was parliamentary private secretary to Ed Miliband, also gave up his role after the vote.
They were among 22 Labour MPs to rebel against Keir Starmer's support for mandatory vaccines.
A spokesman for Keir Starmer confirmed they had both stepped down but did not confirm whether disciplinary action would be taken against those who defied the whip.
Earlier she had warned that mandatory vaccines for health service workers - which were supported by Labour - would have a "bad impact" on NHS staff.
The MP for York Central told YorkMix Radio : “Well, the whole NHS is really under so much pressure at the moment, it really is getting ready for a bad winter.
“Therefore, this evening, I could not vote for staff to be forced to have vaccines, which for some people will mean that they will leave the service.
“Mandatory vaccinations have a bad impact on NHS staff, instead of giving people space for a supportive conversation with somebody who is trained to help answer people’s questions, all it does is alienate them.
“Many staff are frightened at this time, they’ve worked really hard, but they’re worried about having a vaccine, particularly if they haven’t had their first jab."
In the House of Commons she said she had "serious concerns about the principle of mandatory vaccination", adding "it has the contrary effect for which it is intended and therefore is wrong".
She said: "We know that the Prime Minister is allowing people to go to pubs and clubs unmasked, whilst sacking NHS staff wearing full PPE and testing."
She added: "I want all NHS and care staff to have vaccine counselling and education with a qualified practitioner holding the right competencies so that concerns can be explored."
As a result of her rebellion, Mr Streeting told Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis, she decided to quit the front bench.
Mr Streeting said: "Rachel has resigned from the frontbench because she felt it important to take the stand.
"I don't agree with the way she voted, but I respect her and I respect the choice she made, and I respect my colleagues too. These are difficult questions and judgements."
He defended the party's position, saying: "But in the end, I think the Labour Party did the right thing by the public, the right thing by the NHS workforce.
"And in doing so, we helped the health secretary get this measure over the line against a backdrop where without Labour support today, a whole raft of public health measures would have followed.
"We fulfilled our promise to put public health before party politics. I'm proud of that."
