
A Labour whip and an aide to deputy Labour leader Tom Watson quit in order to vote against the prospect of a second Brexit referendum as the party's divisions on the issue were laid bare.
Stephanie Peacock resigned from the whips office, saying she wanted to "respect the result of the 2016 vote" and her constituents in Barnsley East would expect her to "honour that promise".
Ruth Smeeth resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Mr Watson, saying she had a duty to "support the will of my constituents" in Leave-supporting Stoke-on-Trent North.
Labour frontbenchers Yvonne Fovargue, Emma Lewell-Buck and Justin Madders also resigned over the second referendum vote, even though Labour's official policy is to keep the option on the table.
The Stoke MP announced she would be stepping down as an aide to deputy leader Tom Watson as voting was under way in the Commons this evening.
Following the amendments' defeat, MPs said the decision to press the referendum issue to a vote was opposed as premature by the People's Vote campaign, which said MPs should be focusing on the question of whether to seek a delay to Brexit.
MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting posted an open letter to Twitter explaining why he and many of his Labour colleagues in favour of a second referendum had abstained from voting.
The letter read: “We are all deeply committed to securing a People’s Vote. But to win that vote, we need to win a vote in the House of Commons.
“The best chance of that is via the so-called Kyle/Wilson amendment, which is being voted on today.
“The official People’s Vote campaign has said this isn’t the right time.”
The letter was met by some second referendum campaigners as a “risk” on social media.
Meanwhile, the Labour hierarchy - Mr Corbyn, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, chief whip Nick Smith and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer - held talks with two backbenchers who have put forward a plan to back Theresa May's Brexit deal in exchange for a referendum.
A Labour Party spokesman said they had a "useful and constructive discussion" with Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson "as part of Labour's engagement with MPs across Parliament to find a practical solution to break the Brexit deadlock".
In the Commons, Mr Corbyn said: "I reiterate my conviction that a deal can be agreed based on our alternative plan that can command support across the House.
"I also reiterate our support for a People's Vote - not as a political point-scoring exercise but as a realistic option to break the deadlock."
Additional reporting by Press Association.