Jeremy Corbyn: Labour will not support a second Brexit referendum The prospect of Labour supporting a second referendum on European Union membership has been categorically dismissed by Jeremy Corbyn. Some […]

The prospect of Labour supporting a second referendum on European Union membership has been categorically dismissed by Jeremy Corbyn.

Some of his MPs have backed holding a vote on the eventual Brexit deal, and his deputy, Tom Watson, has said nothing should be ruled out.

“He did indeed say that, but our position is that we are not advocating a second referendum,” Mr Corbyn declared.

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Councillors in London added to the calls yesterday arguing that Labour should “be committed to providing the opportunity for people to change their mind”.

“We have had a referendum”

But Mr Corbyn told i that the party needed to accept the result of last year’s vote and press for a Brexit deal which prioritised protecting jobs.

“We have had a referendum which came to a decision. The negotiations are still ongoing, albeit well behind schedule, and we’ve set out the kind of relationship we want to have with Europe in the future.”

The party has been consistently accused of conveying an ambiguous message on Europe in an effort to hold together a coalition of anti-EU voters in some of its Northern strongholds and fiercely anti-Brexit activists.

“I don’t think it’s confusing,” he responded. “What we are saying is … we are formally leaving the European Union of course – that is the position – [but want to] develop a good economic relationship with Europe and recognise the interdependence of our industries.”

“I did what I was asked to do”

The Labour leader, who has been a Eurosceptic throughout his parliamentary career, hit back at charges that he only campaigned half-heartedly ahead of the referendum.

“I travelled the length and breadth of the country from holding rallies on Perranporth beach [in Cornwall] right up to [meeting] fishermen in Aberdeen,” he said.

“I did what I was asked to do, spent a lot of time and effort on it, spent hours and hours on train journeys going from event to event.”