The number of resignations from Jeremy Corbyn's front bench has topped 100 after Labour's latest Brexit meltdown.

The veteran left-winger suffered another six departures last night as the party descended into chaos over whether Britain should stay in the EU single market.

Mr Corbyn had demanded his MPs abstain in the vote on membership of the European Economic Area (EEA).

However 89 Labour members refused to follow the orders - with 15 backing the government, which easily won the vote rejecting the idea. More than 70 Labour MPs voted 'yes'.

The debacle saw shadow Cabinet Office minister Laura Smith quit along with five parliamentary aides, taking the total number of resignations since Mr Corbyn became leader in September 2015 to a staggering 103.

It means that, on average, he lost a frontbencher ever 10 and a half days.

Mr Corbyn (pictured in the Commons today) has warned that Labour 'cannot settle' for a Norway-style deal for the UK

Laura Smith, Rosie Duffield and Ellie Reeves (file images from left to right) were among those to quit Labour's front bench last night

Labour MPs Ged Killen, Tonia Antoniazzi and Anna McMorrin also resigned to defy orders the European Economic Area

More than 60 of the departures came during the abortive 2016 coup staged by moderates in a desperate bid to oust Mr Corbyn.

Joining the EEA after Brexit would leave Britain inside the single market - defying the referendum, according to Brexiteers, as it would mean accepting free movement and not making trade deals.

The Labour disarray left Corbyn's team unable to capitalise on Brexit chaos inside the Government after Theresa May narrowly avoided defeat on Brexit earlier in the week.

Ms Smith quit to join the government in opposing EEA membership, saying her constituents would not accept free movement continuing.

By contrast, parliamentary aides Ged Killen, Ellie Reeves, Tonia Antoniazzi, Rosie Duffield and Anna McMorrin all voted in favour of being in the single market.

Mr Corbyn thanked all the MPs for working on the front but stood by Labour policy of withdrawing from the single market and staying outside the EEA.

The Government won 327 to 201. Three Conservatives - Anna Soubry, Ken Clarke and Dominic Grieve - broken the Tory whip to vote in favour of the EEA.

The Labour leader said: 'I understand the difficulties MPs representing constituencies which voted strongly for Leave or Remain have on the EEA amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

'The Labour Party respects the outcome of the EU referendum and does not support the EEA or Norway model as it is not the right for option for Britain.

It would leave us with next to no say over rules we have to follow, it does not allow us to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union and it fails to resolve the Irish border issue.

'But we are not voting with the Government on this amendment because the Conservatives offer no plan for securing the full tariff free access to the EU's internal market, which is so vital for jobs and living standards in our country.'

The Labour leadership has tried to defuse the looming EEA row by tabling its own amendment to the Bill aimed at delivering the 'same benefits' as single market membership.

But the move infuriated many Labour MPs who pointed out it stood no chance of passing the Commons and merely guaranteed that the Lords measure would be defeated.

The Labour policy was defeated as expected 322 to 240.

Tory vice-chair James Cleverly said the sheer number of resignations in less than three years set Mr Corbyn apart from all other political leaders

Scores of Labour rebels defied Mr Corbyn in the key division on an amendment to the Brexit Bill last night

Who are the 103 Labour frontbenchers who have quit since Corbyn became leader? Tristram Hunt Jamie Reed Chuka Umunna Emma Reynolds Rachel Reeves Caroline Flint Chuka Umunna Yvette Cooper Chris Leslie Shabana Mahmood Liz Kendall Mary Creagh Stephen Doughty Jonathan Reynolds Kevan Jones Naz Shah Diana Johnson Heidi Alexander Lucy Powell Karl Turner Kerry McCarthy Lilian Greenwood Ian Murray Vernon Coaker Seema Malhotra Gloria De Piero Lord Falconer Chris Bryant Chris Matheson Jenny Chapman Wayne David Alex Cunningham Ruth Smeeth Neil Coyle Susan Elan Jones John Healey Matthew Pennycook Steve Bassam Anna Turley Toby Perkins Stephen Kinnock Steve Reed Roberta Blackman-Woods Jess Phillips Yvonne Fovargue Nic Dakin Richard Burden Melanie Onn Sharon Hodgson Jack Dromey Lisa Nandy Owen Smith Sarah Champion Nia Griffiths Kate Green Christina Rees John Healey Jenny Chapman Liz McInnes Colleen Fletcher Angela Eagle Maria Eagle Nick Thomas-Symonds Luciana Berger Thangam Debbonaire Keir Starmer Clive Efford Alan Whitehead Barbara Keeley Andrew Gwynne Andy Slaughter Pat Glass Rob Marris Mike Kane Fabian Hamilton Mary Glindon Gerald Jones Karin Smyth Emma Lewell-Buck Paul Blomfield Nick Smith Kevin Brennan Lyn Brown Conor McGinn Holly Lynch Jo Stevens Tulip Siddiq Rachael Maskell Dawn Butler Clive Lewis Ruth Cadbury Andy Slaughter Catherine West Daniel Zeichner Sarah Champion Alex Cunningham Chris Williamson Laura Smith Ged Killen Ellie Reeves Tonia Antoniazzi Anna McMorrin Rosie Duffield Advertisement

Which Labour MPs defied Jeremy Corbyn's orders to abstain? The division list showed that 74 Labour MPs rebelled to vote against disagreeing with the Lords EEA amendment. They were: Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow), Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower), Hilary Benn (Leeds Central), Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree), Ben Bradshaw (Exeter), Chris Bryant (Rhondda), Karen Buck (Westminster North), Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield), Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth), Ann Coffey (Stockport), Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark), Mary Creagh (Wakefield), Stella Creasy (Walthamstow), Geraint Davies (Swansea West), Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth), Rosie Duffield (Canterbury), Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood), Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central), Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside), Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme), Mike Gapes (Ilford South), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Hall Green), Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston), John Grogan (Keighley), Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood), Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch), Margaret Hodge (Barking), George Howarth (Knowsley), Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton), Darren Jones (Bristol North West), Helen Jones (Warrington North), Liz Kendall (Leicester West), Ged Killen (Rutherglen and Hamilton West), Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon), Peter Kyle (Hove), David Lammy (Tottenham), Chris Leslie (Nottingham East), Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston), Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East), Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden), Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East), Conor McGinn (St Helens North), Alison McGovern (Wirral South), Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North), Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North), Madeleine Moon (Bridgend), Ian Murray (Edinburgh South), Albert Owen (Ynys Mon), Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley), Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South), Ellie Reeves (Lewisham West and Penge), Rachel Reeves (Leeds West), Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton North East), Joan Ryan (Enfield North), Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall), Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield), Gavin Shuker (Luton South), Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn), Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith), Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge), Owen Smith (Pontypridd), Alex Sobel (Leeds North West), Jo Stevens (Cardiff Central), Wes Streeting (Ilford North), Gareth Thomas (Harrow West), Stephen Timms (East Ham), Anna Turley (Redcar), Chuka Umunna (Streatham), Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green), Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington), Martin Whitfield (East Lothian), Paul Williams (Stockton South), Phil Wilson (Sedgefield), Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge). The division list also showed that 15 Labour MPs rebelled to vote with the Government in agreeing to reject the Lords EEA amendment. They were: Kevin Barron (Rother Valley), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire), Frank Field (Birkenhead), Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse), Caroline Flint (Don Valley), Mike Hill (Hartlepool), Kate Hoey (Vauxhall), Kevan Jones (North Durham), John Mann (Bassetlaw), Dennis Skinner (Bolsover), Laura Smith (Crewe and Nantwich), Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central), John Spellar (Warley), Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton). Advertisement

The Lords amendment spells out that the government should be seeking a Norway-style deal with the EU - potentially meaning free movement would stay in place.

Without support from either main party frontbench, it has no chance of surviving.

But senior backbencher Hilary Benn said this morning that he would be among those voting in favour of the change passed by the Lords to the flagship legislation.

'It is really important to keep our options open,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The pressure on the Labour leadership to change tack mounted last night as its Northern Ireland sister party, the SDLP, wrote to all MPs urging them to support EEA membership.

'While we understand and appreciate that there has been good work and efforts made to move to a position of alignment with the European internal market - the SDLP stresses that the removal of the EEA from the draft text of the bill will represent a weakening of this position - and will risk a hard border in Ireland,' SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said.

'The SDLP urges all MPs to support the Lord's amendment to remain in the EEA - we don't just need a vision for a better negotiation strategy, we need it to be a plan.'

Mr Corbyn warned yesterday that Labour 'cannot settle' for a Norway-style deal for the UK.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer admitted last week that the party was 'very divided' over Brexit

'We cannot settle for this. Labour will only vote for a final Brexit deal if it delivers a strong relationship with the Single Market based on full tariff-free access and ensures no loss of rights and standards,' he said.

'Together with a new customs union, that would ensure a strong and balanced package to protect UK jobs and living standards, put a floor under rights and protections and ensure no hard border.'

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer admitted last week that the party was 'very divided' over Brexit.

Asked why it had decided not to back the amendment on the EEA, Sir Keir acknowledged the party was hopelessly split.

'The difficulty with that, and I think everybody recognises this, is that there are very strong and very different views across the Parliamentary Labour Party on that particular amendment,' he said.

'So, whilst there's unity on all the other (amendments) and we will all be voting together, on that amendment there are very divided views.

How has Labour's position on Brexit shifted since the election? Critics say Jeremy Corbyn is even more determined than the government to have his cake and eat it on Brexit Labour's Brexit stance has undergone so many changes it can be difficult to keep track. Even during the referendum in 2016 Jeremy Corbyn was accused of half-hearted campaigning and hedging his bets - admitting he was only '7 out of 10' in favour of Remain. SInce then the leadership has been trying to maintain 'constructive ambiguity' so it can keep hold of heartland voters who often back Brexit - without alienating the party's largely Remainer members and MPs. But critics say Mr Corbyn is even more determined than the government to have his cake and eat it, and has no real answers to what shape Brexit should take. The latest version of Labour's Brexit policy is due to be voted on at the 2018 conference. Official policy says there should be a new general election but if this is impossible, the party could back a new referendum. SECOND REFERENDUM Last September Mr Watson said the party was 'not ruling it out, but it's highly unlikely'. But in November, letters emerged from shadow home secretary Diane Abbott to constituents saying she would 'argue for the right of the electorate to vote on any deal that is finally agreed'. In December, Mr Corbyn said 'We've not made any decision on a second referendum.' But by January this year he was stating: 'We are not supporting or calling for a second referendum. What we've called for is a meaningful vote in Parliament.' Numerous backbenchers have said they want to see a second referendum on a Brexit deal. By conference 2018 internal debate over a second referendum prompted more than 150 different motions on the issue. A 'composited' version invites members to back a new general election but leave a 'People's Vote' on the table. Senior Labour figures have split on what any second referendum should mean - with some, such as Len McCluskey and John McDonnell insisting remaining in the EU cannot be on the ballot - but Sir Keir Starmer has said the motion means it could be. In December last year, Sir Keir Starmer said he would like a 'Norway-style treaty' and as a result 'there may have to be payments to be negotiated' SINGLE MARKET After the election in June last year, Mr Corbyn sacked three frontbenchers for voting in favour of a Commons motion calling for the UK to stay in the single market. The same month shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: 'I think people will interpret membership of the single market as not respecting that referendum.' However, the following September Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said single market membership was possible 'if the European Union wanted to talk about reform of freedom of movement rules'. Sir Keir Starmer has said the party wants 'a partnership that retains the benefits of the single market and the customs union'. Labour whipped its peers to abstain from a vote in favour of the single market earlier this month, but the instructions were largely ignored and many backed the idea. Mr Corbyn briefed MPs on his single market stance at a behind closed doors meeting on May 14. But they did not seem entirely clear on his position, with one backbencher emerging to say he had left the prospect open, but another saying he had made clear the option was 'dead'. A massive rebellion is expected in a Commons vote that could happen next month. CUSTOMS UNION Shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner said in July 2017 that staying in the EU customs union would be a 'disaster' as it would entail an 'asymmetrical relationship' and damage Britain's ability to make deals with other countries. But in February this year Sir Keir confirmed that the party wants to stay in a customs union with the bloc - although not the current one because that would mean EU membership. He said 'the only way realistically' for the UK to get tariff-free access to the EU. The following month Emily Thornberry said Labour wanted to maintain the existing customs union. Last month Barry Gardiner was caught on mic giving a withering assessment of Labour's six tests for approving a Brexit deal, saying they were 'b*****cks' 'What we want to do is we want to remain in the customs union,' she said. 'We don't want any faffing around with any of the nonsense that the Government is coming up with in relation to alternatives to the customs union. We want to remain in the customs union.' Last month Mr Gardiner was caught on mic giving a withering assessment of Labour's six tests for approving a Brexit deal, saying they were 'b*****cks'. 'We know very well that we cannot have the exact same benefits,' he said. Mr Gardiner has also suggested that fears over the Irish border are being whipped up for 'political' reasons. PAYING FOR ACCESS TO MARKETS In December last year, Sir Keir said he would like a 'Norway-style treaty' and as a result 'there may have to be payments to be negotiated'. However, in January this year, John McDonnell said 'I don't understand why we would have to pay' for access to the single market. Advertisement