Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour is “very, very ready” to contest in a snap general election following the European Union referendum.

Speaking as the EU campaign entered its final two days the Labour leader used a speech at the People’s History Museum in Manchester to claim that workers’ rights would be under threat if Britons voted for Brexit on Thursday.

Mr Corbyn, however, was asked whether there was a genuine chance of Labour contesting in a snap election after he hinted earlier in his speech that Labour could return to power before 2020. He responded: “We will have to see on Friday.

“If the government can’t continue forever and it ends up deciding it needs to somehow navigate around the Fixed Term Parliament Act in order to have a general election a little sooner all I can say is that we’re are very, very ready for that.”

Under the Fixed-Term Parliament Act rules dictate that general elections are held every five years, meaning there can be no election before 2020. But there has been speculation that some MPs on Conservative benches believe a snap election following the referendum could be desirable – especially to assert the authority of a new leader if David Cameron is removed.

In order to unpick the legislation and call for a snap election, the Conservatives would need the support of around two-thirds of MPs in the Commons. Today, Mr Corbyn indicated his party would provide that support.

Speaking in Manchester the Labour leader also claimed that “several” Leave supporters “have stated clearly that they want to leave Europe to water down workers’ rights”. He added that they wanted “to rip up the protections that protect work-life balance, that prevent discrimination and prevent exploitation and justice”.

Taking aim at Priti Patel, the Tory employment minister, Mr Corbyn added: “It’s a bit odd when you’ve got an employment minister who announces that the first thing she wants to do on Friday if there is a Leave vote, is to tear up at least half of the employment regulations. I think they should tell us which half it is – is it the holidays? Is it the maternity leave?... which particular regulations is it that they find so offensive that have done so much to improve the lives of so many people in this country.”

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Appearing alongside the Labour leader Alan Johnson, chair of Labour’s In For Britain campaign, said: “The stakes in this referendum are highest for those in our country that have the least.