Brexit deal vote: Momentum boss suggests deselecting MPs who support Boris Johnson’s new EU agreement A Labour NEC member said MPs who back the Prime Minister had ‘no right to stand at the next election’

Labour MPs could face deselection battles if they vote for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal despite Jeremy Corbyn saying he would not use threats to bring his party into line.

The leader has said he will reject the new agreement during a vote in the House of Commons on Saturday and has instructed MPs to do the same.

But members of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, including Momentum founder Jon Lansman, have threatened rebels with deselection, which means they would not be able to stand at the next general election.

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Huda Elmi, who is a constituency Labour party representative, said MPs who sided with the Prime Minister had “no right to stand at the next election”.

“It’s pretty basic. Being a Labour MP means opposing the Tories when they try to destroy our country,” she tweeted.

“This reckless sell out deal is even worse than Theresa May’s, and any Labour MP that sides with Boris Johnson has no right to stand at the next election,” she added.

It’s pretty basic. Being a Labour MP means opposing the Tories when they try to destroy our country. This reckless sell out deal is even worse than Theresa May's, and any Labour MP that sides with Boris Johnson has no right to stand at the next election. — Huda Elmi (@hudaelmi_) October 18, 2019

Meanwhile shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Mr Corbyn’s right-hand man, said there would be “consequences” for rebel MPs.

‘Power of persuasion over threat’

But it appears the leader is seeking to distance himself from these comments. When asked whether MPs would be deselected or have the whip removed for defying the leadership, a Labour spokeswoman pointed to Mr Corbyn’s earlier comments.

“I believe in the power of persuasion rather than the power of threat,” he said on Wednesday.

“I will ask all Labour MPs to vote along with the party in opposing any deal which damages rights and protections, or drives us into the arms of Donald Trump.”

Deselection is the process through which MPs are removed as candidates and unable to represent their party at a general election, which many expect could be imminent.

Earlier Mr McDonnell said there would be “consequences” for rebels but did not say whether this meant having the whip removed.

“This is a three-line whip and the chief whip, in the normal way, will determine the consequences for anyone who doesn’t vote for it,” he told the BBC.

“This is up to the chief whip – I believe in the powers of persuasion. I believe we can persuade people and make sure, as they did over Theresa May’s deal, vote against it because this deal is worse than Theresa May’s. It is a sell-out.”

Mr McDonnell said he did not think any Labour MPs would side with the deal. However Ronnie Campbell, who represents Blyth Valley in Northumberland, is likely to disappoint the shadow chancellor, having indicated he will cross the divide and back the Prime Minister.

‘Have a chat with rebel MP’

When asked about the possible rebellion, Mr McDonnell said he would “have a chat” with his colleague.

“I’m going to have a chat with Ronnie because he is a good socialist and all his life he has fought alongside me to protect trade union rights and develop trade union rights.

“On this one I’m going to have a chat with him and point out to him: please do not give this power [to weaken workers’ rights] to Boris Johnson because you know what he’ll do.

“He’ll undermine trade union rights. Boris Johnson and those Tory MPs that populate the Cabinet, these are the extreme right who have attacked trade unions throughout their political careers.

Mr Campbell said Mr Corbyn and other senior members of the party had tried to convince him to abstain rather than vote for the deal.

However their attempts were unsuccessful.

“I think you’ve got to grasp the straw yourself and get this sorted one way or another,” he told the BBC.

“I appreciate people being 100 per cent Remain but I’m 100 per cent Leave and always have been. ”

Hilary Benn, the chairman of the Brexit select committee who helped to pass legislation to prevent Britain from leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October, said he would not support Mr Johnson’s proposals.

The deal is worse for the economy than the proposals put forward by Theresa May, he added.

Labour rebels

According to The Daily Telegraph, between 10 and 15 Labour MPs are prepared to back the agreement to avoid a no-deal scenario.

Ruth Smeeth MP, who represents Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove, a constituency that voted by more than 70 per cent to Leave, said it was her “intention” to vote for a deal as long as it did not erode rights in Britain.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon went as far as suggesting it would suit Labour for enough rebels to cross the threshold and push Mr Johnson’s deal over the line.

“Hope I’m wrong but I have a real suspicion that Labour would be quite happy to see this deal go through. They will officially oppose but give nod to ‘rebels’ to ensure numbers there to pass,” she tweeted.