Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has backed Jeremy Corbyn’s call for his MPs to respect the EU referendum result.
She said she could understand the “conflict” faced by those whose constituents overwhelmingly voted Remain last June.
But she insisted she supported the UK leader “entirely” when he said he would not do anything to “frustrate” the Brexit process.
Mr Corbyn is facing a growing rebellion after he imposed a three-line whip on Labour MPs, requiring them to back the bill authorising the prime minister to trigger Article 50.
Once invoked, the two-year countdown to the UK’s departure from the EU begins.
Party whips Jeff Smith and Thangam Debbonaire have said they are prepared to go against his orders.
Meanwhile, Tulip Siddiq, a London MP, quit as shadow education minister.
Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens has also stood down from the front bench.
Ms Dugdale said: “I think Jeremy has been right to say that the result of the EU referendum needs to be respected.
“If you are going to conduct a vote of the people, ask them to debate an issue for a period of time, then go to the polls, I think you have to respect the outcome.
“I support Jeremy entirely when he says he won’t do anything to frustrate that process.”
The same logic should be applied to respecting the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum when the turn-out was even higher, she added.
But she stressed this did not mean MPs had to accept the “Tories’ version of a hard, right-wing Brexit”.
She went on: “I think every effort – and this is what Jeremy Corbyn will be focusing on – will be on how to get the best possible deal for the UK, and that has to be the best possible deal for Scotland as well.
“I think it’s clearly very difficult for MPs across the country who find themselves stuck between the interests of their constituents and the overall position of the country.
“The most important thing is we make the best of a very bad situation with regard to Brexit and that has got to be the priority.”
