Corbyn fills four vacancies in his shadow cabinet

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has filled four vacancies in his shadow cabinet.

He appointed Rebecca Long-Bailey as shadow business secretary, replacing Clive Lewis who quit the role this week due to the Article 50 vote.

Sue Hayman has been appointed shadow environment secretary, Christina Rees is shadow Wales secretary, and Peter Dowd is now shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

John McDonnell said it had been a "tough week" in response to fresh rebellion from Labour MPs over the Brexit Bill.

"In some ways, the divisions within the country are reflected in the Labour party," McDonnell said.

However he said that he could understand Labour MPs voted their constituencies.

The shadow chancellor admitted Clive Lewis quitting the shadow cabinet was "a real loss" to the party.

"He's really talented, Clive, but I'm sure he'll be back, he's got a major contribution to make in the future," he said.

McDonnell insisted that Labour would unite to protect the community from a 'Tory Brexit' and that Conservatives were "papering over the cracks" divisions within their own party.

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of leading a "hopelessly divided" party after dozens of Labour MPs voted against the Brexit Bill.

Senior frontbencher Clive Lewis quit the shadow cabinet to defy a three-line whip.

He had promised last week he would vote against the legislation at third reading if Labour amendments to safeguard against a "hard Brexit" were not passed.

A Conservative spokesman said: "This resignation shows that on Brexit, as with everything else, the Labour Party is hopelessly divided and can't even agree amongst themselves, let alone speak for ordinary working people."

Jeremy Corbyn will make decisions on whether to sack frontbenchers who defied the whip in the next few days, a Labour source said.

The Labour leader will also decide who will replace the resigned shadow cabinet ministers, the source added.

A total of 52 Labour MPs rebelled against Mr Corbyn's orders and voted against triggering Article 50.

ITV News' Political Editor Robert Peston has said Labour's internal divisions appear to have resurfaced during the Commons debate over the government's Brexit Bill.

The proposals were passed in parliament this evening by an overwhelming majority, but many Labour MPs were not happy about giving the Prime Minister permission to start the process of leaving the EU.

Leader Jeremy Corbyn told his MPs to support the legislation and "respect" the result of the EU referendum, but 52 of them ignored his order including shadow business secretary, Clive Lewis, who resigned before the vote.

Lewis is seen by some Labour MPs as a possible successor to Corbyn.

Brexit Minister David Davis has said he expects the House of Lords to follow MPs and vote overwhelmingly in favour of starting the formal process for the UK to leave the European Union.

Mr Davis added that peers have a "very important scrutiny role" but he expects them to "enforce the will of the people" and do their "patriotic duty".

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party showed its "respect" for the EU referendum result by voting in support of the Brexit Bill.

Corbyn ordered his MPs to support the legislation, which gives Theresa May the power to begin formal talks for the UK to withdraw from the European Union, although 52 Labour MPs still voted against it.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has vowed the party's peers will aim to amend the Brexit Bill during its next stage going through the House of Lords.

Farron said the party's peers will also make another effort to ensure the country has a second referendum on the UK's final Brexit deal.

"Over the next few weeks, Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords will seek to make changes to the Government's plans," he said.

"Our goal will be to protect Britain's membership of the single market, protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK and to give the people the final say on Theresa May's deal."

A Government source warned peers not to delay the Bill's progress through the Lords.

"The Lords will face an overwhelming public call to be abolished if they now try and frustrate this Bill - they must get on and deliver the will of the British people," the source said.