Jeremy Corbyn has said he would offer a referendum on any Brexit deal signed by a Labour government.
The Labour leader’s comment appears to be a shift in stance from earlier in July, when he said Labour would only push for a public vote while in opposition.
Speaking to Sky News’ Ridge on Sunday programme this morning, Corbyn was asked if he was now supporting a second referendum “in all circumstances”.
“What we’d say is there’ll be a second referendum to make a choice between whatever deal is arranged and what the public want,” he said.
Pressed on whether he would grant a referendum on “a Labour deal if you are in power”, Corbyn said: “Well if we are in power, yes of course, the same thing would apply.”
But he refused to confirm he would campaign for Remain if the choice in a referendum was between the UK leaving with a Labour deal or staying in the EU.
Asked if his preference was to stay in the EU or leave, Corbyn said: “Investment, jobs, trade and equality, both in or out of the EU I want those things.”
Corbyn has come under intense pressure, including from his close allies, to move towards a more pro-Remain position following the party’s poor showing at the European elections.
But others in the party have warned it will suffer heavy losses in Leave voting areas if it abandons a commitment to honour the 2016 referendum result.
Jo Swinson, the new Lib Dem leader, today branded Corbyn “pretty hopeless”.
She told Sky News: I think there are millions of people across the country who are crying out for leadership, for opposition to Boris Johnson and to Brexit and they are not getting it from Jeremy Corbyn.”
James Cleverly, the new chairman of the Conservative Party, said Corbyn was offering “more delay and more confusion”.
“The only way to bring the change people voted for is to get Brexit done by 31 October. And the only way to get a good Brexit deal for Britain is to be prepared to leave without one,” he said.