ELLESMERE Port and Neston MP Justin Madders has explained why he has resigned as Labour health spokesman after defying a party whip on a Brexit vote last week.

The Labour MP admitted he was "sad" after being asked to resign from the role after he voted against an amendment to have a public referendum on Prime Minister Theresa May's deal.

But, writing in this week's Ellesmere Port and Neston Standard (out Wednesday) Mr Madders, who was elected as Labour MP for the area in 2015 and who increased his majority in the 2017 General Election, explained he did not want the public to vote on a deal which had already been rejected heavily twice by Parliament.

He wrote: "I knew when I voted the way I did I might have to go so I have to live with the consequences of that.

"The vote in question was on whether we should have a referendum on whether we choose to leave the EU on Theresa May’s deal, with us not leaving at all if we rejected that.

"I had been asked to abstain on the vote but felt I had to register my objection to that proposal.

"I do not think the Prime Minister’s deal is a good one and so couldn’t see any merit in putting something to a referendum that had already been rejected twice by Parliament."

Mr Madders added he accepted Britain had voted to leave the EU in the June 2016 referendum and believed there still wasn't a majority in Parliament who would back a second referendum.

He wrote: "Having stood on a manifesto at the 2017 election that said I accepted the outcome of the referendum, supporting a referendum on the basis suggested would not have been an honourable or consistent thing to do.

"I have felt for a long time that the only way for Parliament to get through this impasse is for everyone to start engaging in proper dialogue about what kind of deal we can all live with.

"I do not think there is a majority for another referendum in Parliament and the sooner people realise that and engage on finding a solution, the better."

Last Thursday's amendment, put down by The Independent Group – a collection of ex-Labour and Tory MPs – was defeated by 334 votes to 85. In Labour, 24 MPs broke the whip by voting in favour, while 17 – including Mr Madders – voted against.

Even if all Labour MPs had backed the amendment, the vote would not have passed.

Mr Madders, who will remain as the area's MP, was among four junior shadow ministers to be asked to resign, and all did so.