LABOUR MPs have been criticised for voting against the European Repeal Bill.

Burnley's Julie Cooper, Blackburn's Kate Hollern and Hyndburn and Haslingden's Graham Jones were part many Labour MPs who voted against the white paper, which would end supremacy of EU law in UK.

Mrs Cooper, who almost doubled her majority in June's election, was slammed by former Tory opposition candidate Paul white, a Pendle councillor, who said she was 'ignoring the will of the people' after 66 per cent of her constituency voted to leave Europe last summer.

However Mrs Cooper said she would work 'incredibly hard to secure the best deal for Burnley and Padiham'.

Cllr White, who came second in this year's general election, said: "Julie clearly said one thing before the General Election, and is doing another now.

"She's shown her true colours."

"Then she voted against the great repeal bill.

"She says that she voted against it because she wants the opportunity to scrutinise every replacement law.

"That would undoubtedly take years and I think the people of Burnley are right to question whether she wants to slow Brexit down by years, or cancel it completely."

MPs backed the withdrawal bill by 326 votes to 290, it now moves onto the next parliamentary stage were it will face more attempts of change.

Mr Jones said the country needs to look at the bigger picture.

He said: "I voted against the bill because it stated legislation could be changed without going through parliament.

"I cannot let the prime minister change legislation that would affect hard-working ordinary people.

"We voted to leave Europe to strengthen British parliament, not to undermine it.

"This is bigger than Brexit."

The bill will also see the transfer of the relevant EU laws into British national legislation.

Mrs Cooper said she accepted the UK voted to leave and she represents a constituency which reflected the result.

She said: "I have never sought to overturn the outcome of the referendum or 'block Brexit'.

"My constituents voted out, I promised to respect their decision and I have kept that promise.

"I have never tried to delay the process and I never will; to do so would be in my view undemocratic.

"The fact is the government has come forward with a bill that transfers power from the European Parliament, not to the British Parliament, which is what people voted for, but to the Prime Minister and the Conservative cabinet."

Mrs Hollern said she accepted the outcome of the referendum.

She said: "Brexit is happening and we must work to get the best possible deal for our country.

"I share Julie's concerns that Theresa May and her cabinet are more interested in increasing their direct power than ensuring that a deal is reached which will ensure the best outcomes for Blackburn, Burnley and all of our communities.

"I will not oppose Brexit but I will continue to support Labour's campaign to protect investment and workers rights."