David Davis rebuffed 'after trying to kiss Diane Abbott'

Incident happened in Westminster bar after senior Labour MP had backed triggering of Article 50

Secretary of State for exiting the European Union David Davis (EPA)

Brexit Secretary David Davis moved in to kiss Diane Abbott in the MPs' bar at Westminster but was told to "f*** off" by the shadow Home Secretary.

Mr Davis was seen walking off laughing following in the incident in the Strangers Bar on Wednesday night.

It came after the Labour MP had supported the Government in last night’s vote on amendments to the Article 50 bill.

Ms Abbott voted in favour of triggering Article 50, despite claiming it would do damage to the country, and representing a constituency that voted Remain.

She said: "I respect the result of the referendum and no one wanted to thwart it in a perverse kind of way.

"But we need to be clear, this is not a Tony Benn Brexit – this is a Donald Trump Brexit – and it's got a very ugly side."

She released a statement following the vote, saying: “I campaigned for Remain and still believe that it is not in our best interests to leave the European Union.

"However to say that because the vote went the wrong way we are going to ignore the votes of millions of people up and down the country, would be a blow to democracy,” she said.

“This does not mean that we have to accept Brexit in the haphazard way in which it is being handed to us. I like many are rightfully concerned about Theresa May’s Brexit. A Brexit in accordance to Tory values.

“I was in Parliament for the Maastricht Treaty, which was just a revision to the EU Treaty. We debated it for 42 days. MPs have been given just five days to debate coming out of the EU all together. This demonstrates how arrogant Theresa May is, how much she does not want to involve Parliament, and how much she wants to bulldoze things through.

“This passage of this Bill has been a challenge for Labour. Our MPs represent the top six most passionately pro-Leave constituencies, and the six most passionately pro-Remain constituencies.

“Following the decision taken by the Shadow Cabinet on voting for the Article 50 Bill, I voted for the Bill as a loyal supporter of Jeremy Corbyn and a loyal member of the Shadow Cabinet.

“Labour will continue to oppose Theresa May’s intention to carry out a ‘Hard Brexit’. We will continue to fight for jobs and living standards, to protect workers’ rights and environmental standards and the rights of EU citizens, which are all under threat.”

David Davis and Diane Abbott could not be reached for comment last night.