The 13 Labor MPs who've just betrayed every Brit who voted for Brexit Politics

Caroline Nokes

Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes announces the result (Image: Parliament TV)

Thirteen Labor MPs have voted in favor of a Liberal Democrat Bill that would require the Government to negotiate a new customs union with the European Union, contributing to a tied vote that allowed the measure to advance on the casting vote of the Deputy Speaker.

The Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, passed its first stage in the House of Commons after 100 MPs voted aye and 100 voted no. Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes cast the deciding vote in favor, in line with parliamentary precedent for tied divisions on such motions, to permit further debate. The bill is scheduled for second reading on January 16, 2026.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, pictured at Number 10 today, did not vote (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

A total of 200 MPs participated in the vote out of 650 members. The remaining 450, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the majority of the Cabinet, did not vote. Labor instructed its members to abstain, with only 16 recording a vote: 13 in favor and three against. Roughly 400 Labor MPs abstained.

The 13 who voted aye included several figures from the party's Left-wing, such as Richard Burgon (Leeds East), a longstanding ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn; Dawn Butler (Brent East), a vocal advocate on equality issues; and Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill), known for her campaigns on social justice.

Other supporters included Dame Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch), chair of the Public Accounts Committee; Imran Hussain (Bradford East); and Afzal Khan (Manchester Rusholme).

The group also featured backbenchers Sadik Al-Hassan (North Somerset), Fleur Anderson (Putney), Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower), Marsha de Cordova (Battersea), Peter Lamb (Crawley), James Naish (Rushcliffe), and Dr Simon Opher (Stroud).

Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent (Image: Getty)

The vote breakdown for the 100 ayes was as follows: 65 Liberal Democrats, 13 Labour, 8 Scottish National Party, 4 Plaid Cymru, 3 Green Party, 2 Social Democratic and Labor Party (Northern Ireland), 1 Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) and 4 independents.

Opposition to the bill came from 89 Conservatives, plus tellers David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) and Andrew Snowden (Fylde). The remaining no votes included 4 Reform UK MPs, 3 Labor MPs, 2 independents, 1 Traditional Unionist Voice (Northern Ireland) and 1 Ulster Unionist Party. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not vote.

The Bill's progress highlights ongoing tensions within Labor over post-Brexit relations with the EU. It follows comments last week by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who suggested on a podcast that countries like Turkey had benefited economically from a customs union with the EU.

Sir Keir quickly clarified that such an arrangement was not government policy, reaffirming the 2024 Labor manifesto's commitment to closer EU ties without joining the customs union, single market or freedom of movement.

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Earlier on Tuesday, Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper challenged Ms Reeves in the Commons, accusing the Brexit deal of imposing red tape on businesses and damaging public finances. Ms Reeves responded by outlining the government's recent “reset” with the EU, including agreements on veterinary standards, energy trading and youth mobility schemes like Erasmus.

She added that the administration was pursuing trade deals with growing economies such as India and the United States to drive economic growth.

Conservative former minister Simon Hoare, a Remain supporter in the 2016 referendum who has since backed the result, opposed the motion. He argued it would create uncertainty for businesses and undermine the government's efforts to build a stable UK-EU relationship outside formal membership structures. Mr Hoare noted the EU's lack of interest in reopening such negotiations.

Ten-minute rule bills like this one rarely advance without government support, which Labor has ruled out. It is expected to lapse for lack of parliamentary time unless ministers intervene, an outcome they have indicated they will not pursue. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described the result as a “historic victory,” urging Starmer to reconsider his red lines to boost growth and public services.