JEREMY Corbyn has dashed Scottish Labour’s hope of a distinct Brexit deal north of the border, saying it would be “very, very difficult if not impossible” to achieve.

Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale claimed on BBC Radio 4 just last week that Mr Corbyn was “very open” to her idea of devolving immigration and employment law.

However the UK leader effectively dismissed the notion on Sunday as he rounded off a five-day tour of Scotland with an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Mr Corbyn said UK-wide agreement was preferable, and separate economic and legal systems in different parts of the UK would be “very problematic”.

The SNP said the remarks were “deeply embarrassing” for Ms Dugdale, who opposed Mr Corbyn being leader, and cast doubt on her flagship plan for a federal UK.

Mr Corbyn was speaking after Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer announced a Labour government would stay in the EU single market and customs union for several years after Brexit to simplify the transition period needed to avoid a cliff edge for business.

Tory ministers say the UK will leave both the single market and customs union during the transition, in order to strike trade deals with non-EU states, but can also have a bespoke deal with the EU on having broadly similar access.

Sir Keir that was “fanciful and unachievable”, and showed the Tories were ready to take “colossal risks" with the economy because of Theresa May’s “ideological obsession" with quitting the EU’s institutions.

He said Labour’s plan, signed off last week, offered a simpler “one-step transition”, and would be “as short as possible, but as long as necessary”.

Staying in the customs union could be an “end destination” for Labour, he said, suggesting the party is shifting toward Norway-style European Economic Area membership.

Discussing Brexit, Mr Corbyn said: “Could you have a separate arrangement for different parts of the UK? I think that becomes very complicated because if you are trading, companies exist in Scotland, exist in Wales, exist in England, they are making things, doing things together, it would be very, very difficult if not impossible to see how we could separate those out. It has to be a UK-wide agreement.”

Asked about a more federal UK to reflect the different Brexit votes around the country, he said: “We are looking at the way we bring about genuine devolution and particularly economic devolution. Could you have a separate economic and legal system in different parts of the UK? I think that becomes difficult and very problematic. I want a Labour government that is going to legislate better working conditions for everybody across the UK."

SNP MSP Bob Doris said: "Just once before one of Jeremy Corbyn's Scottish sojourns you'd think he'd pick up the phone to Kezia Dugdale to agree Labour's position on the big issues.

“The fact he has now confirmed he agrees with the Tories that Scotland should be denied control over immigration is deeply embarrassing for his Scottish lieutenant given that this is one of the most fundamental questions currently facing our country - the movement of people to work in our economy.

"If Jeremy Corbyn is backpedalling furiously on giving Holyrood more powers then his promises of federalism ring utterly hollow."

Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who campaigns against a hard Brexit, said Sir Keir’s announcement of a "jobs-first Brexit" was a significant moment.

He said: “A jobs-first Brexit is only possible through continued British membership of the single market and customs union.

"This will rightly pile the pressure on the Government to put membership of the single market and the customs union at the heart of their negotiating strategy. Anything else will be bad news for our economy, jobs, public services and social justice."

Responding to Sir Keir's announcement, Labour peer and former minister Lord Adonis said on Twitter: "Chances of staying in the EU just rose to nearly 50%. Rejoice, rejoice!"

A Tory spokesman said Labour had “no idea” what it wanted on Brexit, while Ukip accused the party of “betraying” the supporters who expected the party to respect the Leave vote.

LibDem MP Tom Brake said Labour’s position on Brexit was “all spin and no principle”.