Labour MP Ian Murray has single market motion blocked

Backbench Labour MPs have reacted angrily after their leadership helped to block a bid to keep the UK inside the EU single market and customs union.

An amendment to trade legislation put forward by Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray on Monday night would have prevented any import duties being added to products arriving from the EU, putting a legal barrier in the way of the UK Government's plans to leave the trading bloc.

But the measure was opposed by members of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, leading to accusations that the Labour front bench had "betrayed" Remain-supporting voters who backed Labour to fight Brexit.

Labour MPs were whipped to vote against the amendment, which was defeated 311-76, despite party policy calling for the UK to remain in the single market and customs union during a Brexit transition period.

A Labour source told the Politics Home website: "The SNP, Green MP, Plaid and the LibDems - the other progressive parties in the Commons - voted for Ian’s amendment, and yet the frontbench has betrayed Labour voters who thought we would stop a hard Brexit, instead going through the lobby with the Tories and the likes of Johnson, Gove, Fox and the rest.

"We just watched John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner literally walk through the lobby with David Davis."

Mr Murray was quoted as saying: "It is disappointing that this amendment was defeated but the fight for customs union membership is far from over."