Debbonaire resigned from her role on 27 June 2016 following a series of other resignations, saying that she did not believe Corbyn was the right person to lead the Labour Party into the next election. She also opposed Corbyn's call for Article 50 to be triggered on the day immediately following the referendum on the European Union. Debbonaire's resignation attracted criticism in her Constituency Labour Party (CLP), with some concerned members accusing her of being a liar, a "traitor," and a "scab". Debbonaire endorsed Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election. After Corbyn defeated Smith, on 12 October 2016, Debbonaire accepted an appointment as a shadow whip in Corbyn's front bench team, overcoming her former belief that Corbyn was not the right person to lead the Labour Party into the next election.