SOUTHAMPTON MP Alan Whitehead defied his constituents to vote against triggering Article 50.

The Labour MP was one of eight who voted against the bill despite their constituents voting to leave the EU in the June 2016 referendum.

Speaking after the result last year shadow energy minister Mr Whitehead said: "The result is very disappointing.

"From the perspective of where I stood in the campaign and what I did and I think that it’s probably becoming clear that people voted the way they for a variety of reasons, not necessarily because of whether they wanted to be in or out of the EU."

Jeremy Corbyn will now carry out a mini-reshuffle after two shadow cabinet members quit his top team to defy his orders and vote against formally triggering Brexit.

Shadow environment secretary Rachael Maskell and shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler both resigned so they could oppose the European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill, which paves the way for Theresa May to invoke Article 50 to begin officially exiting the bloc.

York Central MP Ms Maskell said she made the decision to vote against Article 50 in line with the strong 58-42 Remain vote in the city.

"The UK is no longer being offered a 'people's Brexit' but a 'Theresa May Brexit', which goes far beyond just leaving the European Union, as voted on at the referendum last June," she said in a statement.

"In voting against the legislation, I am representing the will of my constituents, ensuring their voice is heard in Parliament."

Brent Central MP Ms Butler also appeared to vote in line with her constituents, as the borough of Brent voted strongly 59.7-40.3 to Remain in the EU in last June's referendum.

A spokeswoman for Ms Butler said: "Since the referendum Dawn has made it clear to her constituents that she would respect the democratic vote of Brent, which voted 60% to remain.

"Dawn cannot vote for a bill which she is sure will make her constituents poorer."

Former shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens and junior shadow minister Tulip Siddiq had already quit in protest before the vote.

On the night, 10 junior frontbenchers and three whips, who are supposed to enforce party discipline, voted against triggering Article 50.

The Labour leader will decide later on how to respond to the rebellious junior frontbenchers after making it clear that shadow cabinet members would have to resign if they defied the whip.

The frontbenchers who voted against the Bill were shadow sport minister Rosena Allin-Khan, shadow culture minister Kevin Brennan, shadow police minister Lyn Brown, shadow housing minister Karen Buck, shadow crime minister Rupa Huq, shadow Northern Ireland minister Stephen Pound, shadow housing minister Andy Slaughter, shadow foreign office minister Catherine West, shadow energy minister Mr Whitehead and shadow transport minister Daniel Zeichner.

The whips were Thangam Debbonaire, Vicky Foxcroft and Jeff Smith.