The Greater Manchester Labour MP who helped Theresa May force through crucial Brexit votes two days in a row has defended his actions - and insisted he did not prevent his party from fighting a general election.

Veteran Brexiteer Graham Stringer also attacked party colleagues for attempting to ‘sabotage’ the referendum result and insisted he has simply been upholding the electorate’s choice, as well as that of the Labour manifesto, by voting not to be part of any kind of customs union with Europe.

He said Donald Trump was ‘keen’ on forging a trade deal with the UK government, adding that the US president’s approach to international trade was ‘not completely without reason’.

(Image: PA)

The former Manchester council leader had backed crisis-hit Theresa May in two knife-edge customs union votes - part of several in recent days - on both Monday night and Tuesday night.

He was one of just three Labour MPs who defied party whips to ultimately help the government over the line.

Before Tuesday’s vote Tory rebels had been warned by Number 10 that were the government to lose, a vote of confidence would be called, which could then have triggered a general election.

Mr Stringer said that would never have happened, however.

Pointing out the government had already lost some Brexit votes without calling an snap election, he suggested the claim had been an empty threat.

“The government lost an amendment yesterday. They lost one in December. There was no general election,” he said.

“Had they lost a second vote last night, they say that they would have had a vote of confidence - which they would have won, because every Tory MP and every DUP member would have voted for it.

“The idea that Tory MPs would have voted for a motion of no confidence which would have given a general election is fanciful.”

Asked why he backed a precarious government on a proposal opposed by virtually all other Labour MPs, as well as a section of the riven Conservative party, he insisted he was simply upholding his own party’s promise to voters by refusing to back a customs union with the EU.

“The Labour manifesto is absolutely clear that we should make our own trade deal,” he said.

“If you’re in a customs union you can’t. Period. The referendum said we should leave the EU.

“The implication of that is so we can make our own laws and trade deals. It didn’t say ‘leave the EU and retain its laws and restrictions’.”

Mr Stringer’s actions were met with stinging criticism from some on the left, including Remain-supporting Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who said: “It’s very disappointing and our communities will question why Labour MPs are jeopardising jobs.”

The Blackley and Broughton MP batted away the remarks, however, saying: “Chuka is the leader of a group of people who call themselves the kamikaze Labour MPs who are doing everything they can to sabotage the referendum.

“It’s not about getting a better deal with them. It’s about fundamentally reneging on the agreement with the electorate of the UK.”

He said he had ‘no idea’ whether or not the party would take disciplinary action against him, but added: “There’s a history of Labour MPs voting on principle on both sides of the argument on EU matters. Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have repeatedly voted against whips and there would be nobody left in the Labour party if people were expelled for voting on principle on EU issues.”

Asked how he could be confident that Donald Trump would honour his previous promises of a trade deal with the UK, given his erratic behaviour, he said: “The rest of the English-speaking world have made it very clear that they are very keen on doing deals with us. Trump and his entourage are keen and see the EU as a hindrance to trade deals.”

Denying Trump has been pursuing particularly isolationist or protectionist policies, including the placing of trade tariffs on steel and aluminium imports that have sparked fears of a trade war, he said the EU itself put its own ‘high trade barriers up’ both against poorer countries and the US.

“It’s not completely without reason,” he added of Trump’s approach to trade.