Labour's Nadia Whittome found out she'd been sacked for the second time this year - live on ITV's Peston. Whittome has been removed as parliamentary private secretary, an unpaid support role to the front bench. She had defied party whips to vote against the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. The bill is designed to protect British military veterans from prosecution for historical actions.
Whittome was informed of her dismissal last night on Robert Peston's show. Watch the moment below, in particular Tory MP Steve Baker's tortured expression as she excuses her actions.
Earlier this year Whittome was sacked from her temporary role as a carer after speaking out about PPE shortages that were reportedly false.
The Overseas Operations Bill passed its second reading by 331-77. It was opposed by the SNP, Liberal Democrats and 18 Labour MPs. Two other parliamentary private secretaries voted against the bill - Olivia Blake and Beth Winter - both of whom agreed to stand down from their roles. Whittome refused to resign and was therefore sacked.
In addition to Blake and Winter, Whittome was joined in opposing the bill by other hard left colleagues in the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG), as follows.
Diane Abbott
Apsana Begum
Richard Burgon
Ian Byrne
Jeremy Corbyn - didn't take him long to return to his old tradition of defying party whips!
Ian Lavery
Rebecca Long-Bailey
John McDonnell
Kate Osamor
Kate Osborne
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Lloyd Russell-Moyle
Zarah Sultana
Jon Trickett
Claudia Webbe
The hard left have been quick to defend Whittome (and also slam members of the SCG who didn't oppose the bill, such as Clive Lewis and Rachael Maskell). Twitter users have also pointed out that when Whittome was sacked from her carer role, a certain knight of the realm sprang to her defence...
Whittome retains the Labour whip.
