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Labour is "moving towards" throwing its full weight behind a second EU referendum, three top party chiefs declared today.

Shadow Cabinet ministers John McDonnell, Tom Watson and Barry Gardiner all said the prospect of backing a so-called 'People's Vote' is edging closer.

Mr McDonnell and Mr Gardiner both suggested a decision will be made as soon as this week.

Currently the party is keeping a public vote as one option on the table - along with the competing options of Labour's deal or a general election - in line with a motion passed at October's party conference.

But pro-EU activists say that with 33 days left to Brexit and no imminent election it is time to back a public vote.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell confirmed a second EU referendum is now "increasingly on the agenda" for Labour .

(Image: PA)

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics: "Going back for a public vote now is increasingly on the agenda to break the deadlock but also to prevent no deal."

He added: "We've always said if we can't get a deal that (would) protect jobs and the economy we have to go back to the people - and that's what we'll have to do if that's the case this week."

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said of a second referendum: "We're moving in that direction."

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "What we would prefer is that Theresa May aligns around our red lines, gives us closer economic sort of, you know, closeness to the European Union.

"But if we can’t get that, if we can’t get a deal, if we can’t get our red lines met, then the conference policy negotiated by Keir Starmer is that we go for a people’s vote."

And Shadow Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner told Sky News: "We cannot risk no deal.

(Image: Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock)

"The closer we get to no deal the more important that safety net of a second referendum becomes.

"And what I think we’re seeing in this coming week is the movement towards that as that safety net against no deal.”

Labour is considering whether to back an amendment by backbench MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson that could force a second EU referendum.

Under the plan, due to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, MPs would back Theresa May's deal but only if it is put to a final vote of the public.

Mr Gardiner described the amendment as "helpful", adding: "There’s talks going on with them, I hope we’ll find a way through."

And Mr McDonnell said: "We're working with them to see can we have a re-draft of that amendment which people could vote for.

"I think there's a high possibility we could."

(Image: BBC)

It came as furious MPs condemned Theresa May for confirming a final vote on her revised Brexit deal has been kicked down the road yet again.

The PM said there will not be a "meaningful" vote on the 585-page plan this week and it may be as late as March 12 - 17 days before the UK leaves the EU.

She did not guarantee Brexit will happen on time, instead saying: "It is still within our grasp to leave the European Union with a deal on March 29."

Meanwhile MP Yvette Cooper is pushing a bid this week to delay the date of Brexit if there is no agreement by mid-March.

Three Cabinet ministers, Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clark, have publicly warned they could back the bid.

But they faced a backlash from furious Brexiteer Tories who accused them of "astonishing disloyalty".