Sign up to FREE email alerts from Liverpool Echo - Weekly Politics Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool could be the base for the most concerted effort yet to stop Britain from leaving the European Union next month.

The city will play host to the Labour Party Conference from September 23 to 26 and an increasing number of members across the country are backing a motion calling for a second referendum at the event in the city.

Such a motion could prove tricky for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party leadership which has maintained the another vote on Europe is not its policy - but the pressure is mounting.

It is thought that around 130 local Constituency Labour Party (CLP) groups have indicated that they would be willing to back a motion at the Liverpool conference which urges Mr Corbyn to oppose a Tory Brexit deal and to call for an 'immediate General Election and make a manifesto commitment to call a public vote on the deal with an option to remaining in the European Union."

(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

The motion - which nine local parties have already submitted for conference - would add: "If we cannot get a General Election, still campaign for a public vote and call for a General Election following the government defeat in that vote."

The left-leaning Labour for People's Vote group has drafted the motion and other key left groups including Momentum appear to be shifting towards backing a second referendum.

It will seem appropriate to many that Liverpool - a city that owes so much to the European Union and that voted firmly in favour of remain - could be the historic site of Labour moving its position on Brexit.

(Image: Colin Lane)

Someone who has always been very vocal in his opposition to leaving the EU is Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, who last month led his council in passing a motion asking for a people's vote.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

He said this move was in no way an attack on Mr Corbyn and said he believes the Labour leader would back the plan in the motion.

He said: "The recent survey shows that as a council and as a city we are on the right track - that is why we moved the motion that we did - although some people have tried to construe my motion as an attack on Jeremy Corbyn, which it absolutely was not."

"I am more than happy to demand a second referendum but in the form of a General Election.

"The referendum should be part of Labour's election campaign, saying we want to stay in the single market and that we will negotiate a deal with the European Union - that way people can see exactly what we are saying and what they will get if they vote Labour.

"I think even many of those who voted leave have clearly changed their minds."

Mayor Anderson said he will speak out about his opposition to Brexit at conference, adding: "When the Tories talked about managed decline in Liverpool it was the European Union who helped us to survive and move forward. Liverpool is a European city and always will be and like the rest of the country we were sold a pup.

"I think we are heading towards disaster and I think more and more people want another say based on what we know now.

"I think Jeremy Corbyn wants another referendum, but he wants it within a General Election format - and that would be my first choice too."