Labour would be making a huge mistake if it became “a party of Remain”, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most important trade union backers has warned.

Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said that campaigning to reverse the referendum result would show that the party’s priorities were “completely wrong” and risk “driving a wedge between Labour and the very people it needs to speak for”.

Writing in The Times Red Box, Mr Ward said that “re-running the referendum will be seen as turning our back on the very people who rightly feel the country does not work for them”, adding: “Take back control was a hugely powerful message three years ago. The so-called People’s Vote campaign . . . seems to