Jeremy Corbyn rules out cutting cross-party deal for power as he braces for Labour conference rows over Brexit The Labour leader is under increasing pressure to adopt a firmly pro-Remain stance ahead of the next election

Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out cutting deals with other parties to get into power – as he prepared for a Labour conference likely to be dominated by rows over Brexit.

The Labour leader suggested that if he falls short of a majority at the upcoming general election he will seek to govern as a minority prime minister rather than entering a coalition or confidence and supply agreement with the Liberal Democrats or SNP.

Mr Corbyn’s refusal to consider a deal comes as the Labour conference opens in Brighton on Saturday. During the gathering the leader will be under pressure from party activists and senior MPs to commit to a pro-Remain position at the

The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

He said he would not enter talks with another party in order to keep the Conservatives out of Downing Street. Mr Corbyn insisted: “We would go into government with whatever election result was. I am not doing deals. I am not doing coalitions.”

‘It’s not a muddled position’

Labour’s policy on Brexit is to renegotiate the existing Withdrawal Agreement, then hold an in-out referendum that would decide whether or not Britain should leave the EU at all. An increasing number of Mr Corbyn’s allies want him to go further, promising to campaign for Remain in the referendum. John McDonnell, the shadow Chancellor and Mr Corbyn’s closest friend, told The Times: “I’ve said I support Remain so I will campaign for Remain.”

In an interview with ITV Yorkshire, the leader refused eight times to reveal how he would vote in the referendum. But he denied dodging the question, saying: “I think leadership comes from listening. I think leadership comes from asking people to look at the realities of the situation. It is not a muddled position. It is a position that takes the issue seriously.” And he confirmed that if the party membership chooses to back Remain, he will follow their lead.

The key moment in deciding Labour’s Brexit policy will come on Monday when activists vote on what should go in the manifesto. Other crucial showpiece events are expected on Sunday when shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott speaks, a day-long debate on climate change on Tuesday, and Mr Corbyn’s closing speech on Wednesday.

A parallel conference backed by left-wing pressure group Momentum, called The World Transformed, is running alongside the main event. Momentum is also pushing a number of hardline policy positions including abolishing private schools and limiting rents according to the incomes of local residents.

One of the fringe events taking place during Labour conference will see Michelle O’Neill, the leader of Sinn Fein, address a public meeting. It is likely to prove controversial because Brighton was the scene of an IRA bomb during the 1984 Conservative conference aimed at killing Margaret Thatcher.

The conference is also set to see senior MPs jostle for position in the race to replace Mr Corbyn as leader when he steps down, with speculation mounting he is unlikely to serve for more than two or three more years. Mr McDonnell said the next party boss should be a woman and pointed to Emily Thornberry, Angela Rayner, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Dawn Butler as possible candidates.