LEIGH MP Jo Platt went against the Labour whip in Parliament last night, Tuesday, after backing the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal in principle.

She was one of 329 representatives who backed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) in principle in the House of Commons, defeating the 299 votes who opposed it.

However, Ms Platt joined politicians in not accepting the tight timetable demanded by the Government in a bid to ensure there was no further delay to Britain’s departure from the EU.

The House voted by 322 to 308 against the programme motion which would require the WAB to clear all its Commons stages by the end of Thursday.

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Ms Platt said: "The new Brexit agreement has serious flaws but I believe the responsible and pragmatic approach is for this Bill to reach committee stage to allow binding amendments to be put on issues such as a Customs Union, workers’ rights and a parliamentary lock on future negotiations."

She said it this will "allow Labour to put forward our sensible version of Brexit that respects the referendum result but protects our rights, jobs, businesses and economy".

Ms Platt said: "This is honouring my promise during the 2017 election to work constructively in Parliament to secure a sensible Brexit deal while preventing a damaging Tory hard Brexit that has no mandate but the Prime Minister is evidently trying to push through.

"I have therefore voted for this Bill at second reading, but this certainly does not mean that I will support the Bill at third reading, the last opportunity to vote down this piece of legislation, or in any future meaningful vote.

"Indeed, I could not support the deal in its current form.

"However, I firmly believe that we should not pass the opportunity to thoroughly debate and amend this deal before final approval.

"The Conservatives are also trying to push this important Bill through in just three days.

"This timetable is totally unacceptable and a democratic outrage.

"Rest assured, I will certainly vote against this programme for debate to ensure that Parliament properly and thoroughly debates and scrutinises such important legislation."

Meanwhile, Bolton West and Atherton MP Chris Green voted both in favour of the Bill and the timetable to get it through the House of Commons by Thursday.

Mr Green said: “My constituents voted to leave the European Union over three years ago, yet their democratic vote and the democratic decision of the country has not yet been delivered upon.

“Our Prime Minister has achieved what the establishment said was impossible – he has negotiated an excellent new deal that the country can unite behind, which is why I voted for it.

“Labour have done all they can to frustrate the Brexit process and hold another divisive referendum, whereas we want to get on with Brexit, so we can focus on the people’s priorities of health, education and law and order.”