THREE Labour frontbenchers have been sacked for voting against a bill which gives the armed forces a "free pass over alleged war crimes".

The trio of junior ministers broke the party whip by refusing to abstain on a vote on the second reading of the Overseas Operations Bill.

The Government said the proposed legislation will ensure service personnel will be protected from "vexatious claims and endless investigations".

Ministers said it seeks to limit false and historical allegations arising from overseas operations by introducing a statutory presumption against prosecution, making it exceptional for personnel to be prosecuted five years or more after an incident.

But campaigners and some senior military figures have warned the legislation will create a presumption against prosecution of torture and other serious crimes except rape and sexual violence.

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The row over the proposed law also caused splits in the Labour Party, with leader Sir Keir Starmer sacking three MPs from frontbench roles after they defied whips' orders to abstain.

Nadia Whittome and Olivia Blake confirmed they had been stripped of their junior roles after voting against the Bill.

Party sources also confirmed that Beth Winter MP, who like Whittome and Blake was an aide to shadow ministers, has been removed from her position.

Whittome tweeted: "This morning the leader of the Opposition's office called me to confirm that I have been stood down from my role as parliamentary private secretary to the shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, following my vote against the Overseas Operation Bill.

"I opposed the Bill because it effectively decriminalises torture and makes it harder for veterans to take legal action against the Government or for war crimes to be investigated."

The Nottingham East MP, who at 24 is the youngest member of the Commons, said that while she understood others in her party hoped amendments could be made at a later stage and so abstained, it was "important that MPs are able to vote in line with their conscience".

Blake, who was an assistant to the shadow culture and Scotland teams, said she was "sad" to leave her role but added that she could not abstain on a Bill that "effectively grants impunity for some of the most serious crimes someone can commit".

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A Labour source had told the PA news agency that "anyone who wanted to vote against (the) whip" had been informed they "would have to resign".

Starmer’s predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, along with former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott and ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell, were among the Labour rebels.

Amnesty International UK has warned the legislation could cause "real and lasting damage to the reputation of the Armed Forces".

Director Kate Allen said: "It is in no-one's interests for members of the Armed Forces to be given a free pass over alleged war crimes."