BBC/Twitter Labour MP Jess Phillips provoked fury online with her comments about the EU

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Jess Phillips was branded "self-centered" and "out of touch" and was accused of betraying her position in parliament by furious critics, who raged: "And you wonder why MPs are held in such contempt." The Birmingham Yardley MP initially posted a tweet of two Lego Darth Vader toys with the caption: "My twin nephews coming from France today. The life my brother has made there is a big reason why I want to remain."

But the statement was immediately seized upon by some of her followers, who argued it was not a good enough reason to keep 60 million people inside the Brussels club. The Labour backbencher also sparked controversy after she implied to her 20,000 followers that Britain's loss of sovereignty to the EU is not a cause for concern.

BBC The Birmingham MP said Britain should remain in the EU because her brother lives in France

When one user sarcastically tweeted in response "don't worry about the loss of sovereignty as long as your brother is OK", she replied: "Also, sovereignty doesn't worry me." The remark provoked fury online at a time when the leave campaign has opened up a huge six per cent lead in the opinion polls. Twitter users were quick to attack the MP for her stance, with many pointing out the irony of a politician seemingly not caring about the powers of the body she was elected to represent. Sean Moran branded the MP "self-centred", raging: "Jess Phillips brother likes living in France so we obviously should vote to stay."

GETTY Britons could get a vote on our relationship with Brussels as early as this summer

GETTY Some users mocked her comments, suggesting we should stay in the EU because they like Camembert

Sovereignty doesn't worry me Labour MP Jess Phillips

One user tweeted: "So I should vote to REMAIN because your brother likes living in France. Is that the level of consideration?" Another added: "Well you're only an MP, why would you care about parliamentary sovereignty?" While Allen Starr raged: "1,000 years of history, two world wars and you don't give a toss about sovereignty. Utter disgrace!" One user wrote: "It's the main reason I'll be voting 'out'…Labour totally out of touch with electorate." And Mike Barrett said: "It may not worry you with your cushy 70k a year job but it worries us."