Shadow NI Secretary Owen Smith sacked 'over Brexit'

Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith says he has been sacked by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over his views on Brexit.

He was "asked to stand down" as shadow secretary and has been replaced by Tony Lloyd.

In a tweet, Mr Smith said the action had been taken over his "long-held views" on Brexit - which he feels will damage the Good Friday Agreement and the UK economy.

"These views are shared by Labour members and supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country," he added.

Mr Smith, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr Corbyn for the party leadership in 2016, insisted Labour needed to do more than "just back a soft Brexit".

Mr Corbyn has been careful to say that Labour is not seeking a referendum on a Brexit deal, but has avoided completely ruling out such a vote.

In a sign of the leader's anger at Mr Smith's intervention, he has been asked to stand down from the frontbench and replaced with immediate effect by former minister Tony Lloyd.

Speaking about the appointment, Mr Corbyn said: "Tony is a highly experienced former Government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

But former Northern Ireland Secretary and Labour Cabinet minister Lord Peter Hain accused Jeremy Corbyn of a "terrible Stalinist purge".

He said Owen Smith had been doing a "terrific job" and "in a shadow cabinet with a few big hitters, he was definitely one".