Labour has denied it would automatically move to back a second referendum if Theresa May rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s offer of support for a revised Brexit deal, despite a shadow minister suggesting that would be the next step.

The shadow Brexit minister, Matthew Pennycook, said that if the government rejected the offer from Corbyn, made in a letter to the prime minister on Wednesday night, the party would have “no other credible options” but to back another public vote.

We’ve now set out in detail the changes needed to secure @UKLabour support for a deal. Either May accepts them in full and commits to enshrining them in law before exit day or we must move to support a public vote. No other credible options left to prevent a 'no deal' #Brexit. pic.twitter.com/Plz48AQ3Vv — Matthew Pennycook MP (@mtpennycook) February 7, 2019

Labour sources denied it was the party’s official position but said the option of a public vote was still on the table, as per the policy agreed at the party’s conference.

Corbyn is expected to move to reassure party members after the letter he sent to the prime minister sparked an angry backlash from some backbenchers and party members.

In his letter to the prime minister, Corbyn called for the government to rework the political declaration with the EU to offer five commitments, including staying in a customs union, in part to avoid the need for a backstop over the Irish border.

It also called for a say on future EU trade deals and “dynamic alignment on rights and protections”.

Labour MPs who support a second referendum reacted with dismay to Corbyn’s letter. Pat McFadden said his leader was giving MPs in leave constituencies permission to back May’s deal. “He wants it to happen, and even if he doesn’t vote for it himself, he’s sending a signal to Labour MPs that they can do so,” he tweeted.

David Lammy and Owen Smith said Corbyn was compromising too far in favour of Brexit. Smith said the compromise offer was “weaker than our six tests” and trusted the Tory government to legislate to protect workers.

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, suggested Labour had now abandoned its six tests on Brexit in favour of Corbyn’s five demands.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “It is not about tests now. What we are doing is saying: ‘We believe these are the options that are available that would actually secure a majority in the House of Commons.

“It is trying to set out, in a spirit of cooperation and compromise, a way forward that we feel not just the majority of Labour MPs, but actually the majority of parliament, could say: ‘Yes I can support that, it may not be my dream Brexit or my dream remain but it is something that we can move on for and that would be good for the country’.”

Other leading figures in the People’s Vote campaign, including Chuka Umunna, Ben Bradshaw and Mike Gapes, said their leader was trying to facilitate Brexit.

This is not Opposition, it is the facilitation of a deal which will make this country poorer.

A strong, coherent Labour alternative to this shabby, Tory Brexit is absent - it has been since this Parliament began.

Totally demoralising. /1

https://t.co/cRVtopz5Qx — Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna) February 6, 2019

Government ministers were on Thursday cautious and vague in their response to the letter. David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister and de facto deputy prime minister, said he had not had any direct “overtures” from Labour about talks but added: “We should be talking to the official opposition and understand their point of view.”

Speaking on the Today programme, Lidington questioned Labour’s demands but said he wanted to “understand exactly where the Labour frontbench is coming from”.

He said: “It doesn’t mean we will necessarily come to an agreement, but we need to take this forward … let’s hope those conversations can take place.”

He added: “I would be asking what on Earth they mean when they want to be in a customs union with the EU but also for Britain to have a say in EU trade policy with other countries. That’s not something that is allowed under the European treaties. This seems to be wishful thinking. So let’s get down and have those talks with them.”

Quick Guide What is the common market 2.0/Norway-plus Brexit option? Show This soft Brexit compromise has been championed as a plan B for leaving the European Union. It is based on Norway’s relationship with the EU, which is outside the bloc and the customs union but inside the single market. Under the plan the UK would have to join Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland in the European Free Trade Association (Efta), which would then allow it to participate in the European Economic Area (EEA). The ‘plus’ in this option refers to a temporary customs union with the EU, which would need to be negotiated to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. This arrangement would remain in place until the EU and UK agreed a specific trade deal. The option has the advantage of being as close to the EU as possible without full membership, and it would do away with the need for the problematic backstop for Northern Ireland. Like Norway, the UK would be outside the common fisheries and agriculture policies, and would not be subject to the European court of justice. But it crosses a key red line for Brexiters by continuing freedom of movement, one of the preconditions of single market membership. It would also limit the UK's ability to negotiate its own trade deals while a new customs arrangement is under discussion. And it would require continued financial contributions to the EU without an influence, as the UK would no longer have MEPs or a seat on the European Council. It also isn't entirely clear that the UK would be welcomed into Efta.

MPs from both sides of the House who back a “Norway plus” option for a softer Brexit, expressed some optimism at Corbyn’s offer, including the Conservative MP Nick Boles and some of Corbyn’s critics on the Labour benches, including Stephen Kinnock and Lucy Powell.

Boles tweeted that Corbyn’s letter was a significant move towards a cross-party compromise.

Powell tweeted links to a Norway Plus Group pamphlet to show how Corbyn’s suggestions could work.

The response in Brussels to Labour’s proposals was mixed, with officials welcoming the backing of a permanent customs union, and even indicating the UK might have a chance of a consultative role in future trade negotiations.

The member states have not had any discussions on the possibility of the UK taking such a role and France would be likely to take a tough stance. However, officials are loath to rule it out given the size of the British economy, and the benefit it would offer the EU when embarking in trade talks with the rest of the world.



Concerns were expressed, however, that Corbyn was being unrealistic in seeking “shared institutions” with the EU, wording that appears to suggest an equal role for the UK and the 27 member states.

Senior EU officials also doubt the sincerity of Labour’s offer to the prime minister, fearing it is an attempt to weaken May’s hopes of getting a deal through parliament. One official said: “It is a shame that we have this perfect storm: a lousy government and an even lousier official opposition.”