Labour would be willing to sign off on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) keeping at least some of its influence over the UK in the long term post-Brexit, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The shadow Brexit secretary said he was “open” to the court having continued jurisdiction over British matters in the future.

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, has made ending the jurisdiction of the ECJ in Britain a cornerstone of her Brexit plan.

Sir Keir’s comments come one day before Mrs May’s EU (Withdrawal) Bill returns to the House of Commons with the Government braced for a showdown with Tory rebels.

Labour will seek to amend the Bill to ensure that the ECJ continues to play a role in Britain during any post-Brexit transitional period.

Given the delicate balance of power in the Commons with Mrs May’s minority government propped up by the DUP, it would only take a handful of Europhile Tories to back the plan to hand the Prime Minister an embarrassing defeat.

But Sir Keir suggested Labour would be willing to agree to the ECJ keeping influence over the UK long into the future - potentially beyond any transitional period.