Brexit supporters may be disappointed if leaving the European Union doesn’t result in a dramatic cut in immigration, a West Midlands MP has predicted.

Meriden MP Caroline Spelman issued the warning as the House of Commons voted for historic legislation allowing Brexit to go ahead.

MPs approved the Government’s European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which allows the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 and begin the Brexit process, by 498 votes to 114, a majority in favour of 384.

In an earlier vote, MPs rejected an attempt by the SNP to block the Brexit Bill, with 100 voting for the SNP amendment and 336 voting against it.

The Conservative and Labour leadership both backed the Bill, making it almost certain to be approved despite opposition from the SNP and Liberal Democrats.

Labour hit by Brexit resignations

Shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler who has also resigned from the Labour shadow cabinet in order to defy Jeremy Corbyn's orders and vote against triggering Article 50

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was hit by resignations from his Shadow Cabinet, as Shadow Environment Secretary Rachael Maskell and Shadow Diversity Minister Dawn Butler quit over the decision to order Labour MPs to vote for Brexit.

This vote was for the Bill’s “second reading”. Next week, there will be debates and votes on attempts to amend the legislation, followed by a crucial “third reading” vote.

Assuming it is approved by MPs once again, the debates then move to the House of Lords.

MP says 'leave' voters may not get the immigration cuts they hoped for

MP Caroline Spelman

Dame Caroline was one of a number of MPs who campaigned for “remain” but said they now felt duty bound to vote for Brexit.

She said: “I certainly understand that we have to accept the outcome of democratic elections.”

But she warned that some “leave” voters might be disappointed.

“The subject of immigration dominated the conversations I had on the matter, even when standing outside the gates of the car factory. No distinction was made between EU and non-EU migration, which each account for 50% of migrants.

“I worry that our electors expect that taking back control will mean that very few migrants will arrive here.

“However, our history as an empire means that there are family obligations to non-EU migrants and an absolute obligation, through the Geneva and The Hague conventions, to provide safe haven for the most vulnerable people, many from countries for which we drew the lines on a map.”

She added: “I hope the electorate will be patient, but they will judge our efforts on their experience, not on our rhetoric.

“I hope that all that is great about Britain is not sacrificed in pursuit of an unrealistic ambition to go back to some mythical time when we were in control of all we surveyed.”

Geoffrey Robinson, Labour MP for Coventry North West, also campaigned for remain. But he said: “I believe that, as we lost the vote, we have to face the consequences.”

Brexit could help the West Midlands, says MP

Black Country MP James Morris
Black Country MP James Morris

Black Country Conservative MP James Morris, who represents Halesowen and Rowley Regis, also campaigned to stay in. But he chose to see the bright side of leaving, in his Commons speech.

He said: “Leaving the European Union will give us an opportunity to achieve something that has eluded Governments over the past 25 to 30 years - namely, an opportunity to rebalance our economy and lock in the benefits of regional devolution.

“The West Midlands has benefited from European grants for infrastructure development, and as we enter into the negotiation process, it will be incumbent on us to raise the investment levels for infrastructure and skills in the West Midlands.

“For example, the West Midlands currently receives 40% less investment in transport than London and Scotland. The region is dependent on manufacturing and transportation, and that discrepancy has resulted in capacity constraints in the West Midlands economy that need to be addressed.”

There were no such dilemmas for those MPs, such as Birmingham Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart (Lab), who campaigned to leave.

She said “a new modern 21st-century economic liberal democratic structure” would ensure prosperity and peace.

Some strongly pro-EU MPs refused to give up the fight. Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda in Wales, said he would vote against the Bill, adding: “Not in my name. Never, never. never.”

Government to publish detailed Brexit plans

Prime Minister Theresa May
Prime Minister Theresa May

The Government’s promised white paper setting out its strategy for withdrawal from the European Union will be published on Thursday, Theresa May has announced.

Downing Street said the White Paper would “reflect the Government’s plan for Brexit as the PM set out in her speech on our negotiating objectives”.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn will decide later on how to respond to any rebellion among junior frontbenchers over Article 50, but has already said that shadow cabinet members who vote against the whip cannot remain in his top team.

A source said: “Any discipline issues relating to debates and the whipping will be dealt with later.”

Labour has not yet decided whether there will be a three-line whip on the third reading of the Bill, with the Opposition waiting to see what amendments are made to the legislation.

But the source insisted that Labour would not “block or frustrate” the triggering of Article 50.