Labour to back remain as it calls for new Brexit referendum

Jeremy Corbyn has called on the next Tory leader to hold another referendum before October 31, adding that Labour would back remain.

In a BBC interview on Tuesday, the Labour leader said he would ‘make a case’ to parliament in September to get another public vote.

Meanwhile he affirmed his party would do ‘everything’ it can to take no deal off the table or allow a Tory deal.

Corbyn has been under pressure to shift to an anti-Brexit stance in recent weeks, including from shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Deputy Leader Tom Watson.

He has not yet declared Labour’s policy in the event of a general election.

But in an email to party members on Tuesday, he said that if a referendum was called on the Brexit deal negotiated by the incoming Conservative prime minister, his party would support remain.

Corbyn wrote: “Whoever becomes the new prime minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or no deal, back to the people in a public vote.

“In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign for remain against either no deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.”