The Labour leader says he will order party MPs to vote to trigger Brexit negotiations after suggestions some may seek to block it.

Jeremy Corbyn said the party "respects the decision of the British people" to leave the European Union and "we will not block Article 50".

He said his MPs would be asked to vote to officially trigger Article 50, which will start Brexit negotiations with the EU and set the clock ticking on the two-year departure deadline.

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The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Tuesday on whether the Prime Minister must get the backing of Parliament before she can formally notify the EU that Britain is leaving and open discussions.


However, some MPs are said to be prepared to vote to block triggering Article 50, despite the Labour party's official position that it will not do so.

One shadow cabinet minister told The Guardian newspaper: "I'm concerned that if we wave Article 50 through, my constituents will go crazy."

Another said: "When the pain hits, as it will, and when people lose their jobs, you need to be on the right side of that. I don't think we should vote to trigger Article 50."

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Responding to the reports, Mr Corbyn said: "I've made it very clear the Labour Party accepts and respects the decision on British people.

"We will not block Article 50.

"It means all Labour MPs will be asked to vote in that direction next week, whenever the vote comes up."

The suggested three-line whip will be a big test for the party's Chief Whip Nick Brown.

Sky News has been told the "most likely" option to come before MPs will be a two-clause bill that would give permission to trigger Article 50.

Starmer: May's Brexit plan has gaps and inconsistencies

However, a number of MPs have said they want to see more of the Prime Minister's negotiating points built into the legislation.

Following Mrs May's speech on Tuesday in which she laid out her 12-point plan for the leaving the EU, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: "What we need now is to fill in the gaps, we need to unpick the inconsistencies and I think that means we need a plan in parliament.

"We need to make sure that the Article 50 legislation is amended to ensure that those objectives are delivered."

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