LABOUR MP Nadia Whittome defended her decision to vote against a new law that critics claim will decriminalise torture, after she was sacked from her junior opposition role for defying the whip. 

Ms Whittome confirmed today that she had been stood down as a parliamentary private secretary, along with Labour MPs Beth Winter and Olivia Blake.

All three voted against the Overseas Operations Bill, which Tory ministers insist is aimed at protecting armed forces and veterans from “vexatious prosecutions,” but human-rights groups argue would violate international law.