Brexit is 'putting other countries off leaving the EU’ as Europeans fear being hit in the pocket

The uncertainty over how Brexit will affect Brits once the UK fully exits the EU has apparently put other countries off having their own referendum.

Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, claims citizens in EU countries fear being less well-off if their own country opts to leave.

Pointing to estimates from the Bank of England that show Brexit has cost the average UK household £900 already, Mr Rutte said: ‘That is the cost at the moment already that British families are incurring and that will rise.

‘I’ve found in the Netherlands that this fact, but also the fact that it’s hurting our collective security, is the best argument why the others need to work more closely together.’

The Dutch premier also told the European Parliament that his country was ‘fairly and squarely’ behind Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Meanwhile, a vote in Parliament on an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal Bill) saw a massive Labour split, giving leader Jeremy Corbyn a fresh headache.

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A total of 89 of the party’s 257 MPs ignored front bench orders to abstain from voting either for or against an amendment to the bill, that sought to prioritise European Economic Area (EEA) membership in EU negotiations.

They included six Labour MPs who quit senior roles minutes before the vote – which saw the amendment defeated by 201 – in order to rebel against the party’s abstentionist position.

But the rebels were split, with 74 voting in favour of the Lords amendment, which called for the Government to pursue the so-called ‘Norway Model’ membership, and 15 against it.

Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable accused Labour of wasting an opportunity to defeat the Government, accusing Mr Corbyn of being ‘completely defunct as an Opposition Leader’.

Just three Conservative MPs voted in favour of the Lords amendment – arch-Remainers Ken Clarke, Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry.