The video will start in 8 Cancel

What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A third of Labour MPs last night told Jeremy Corbyn to extract the promise of a second EU referendum from Theresa May.

A bombshell letter with 80 signatures threatened to sabotage the chance of the two leaders’ Brexit talks succeeding.

The MPs, including Shadow Treasury ministers Clive Lewis and Anneliese Dodds, told Mr Corbyn a referendum was their “bottom line”.

The two leaders have given themselves 48 hours to strike a deal to break the deadlock.

They need a joint declaration to put before the EU’s 27 leaders in advance of the Brussels summit on Wednesday.

Talks stalled on Friday but the two negotiating teams hope to get them restarted today.

(Image: Getty)

Mr Corbyn, who was helping local election activists campaign in Plymouth yesterday, wants a permanent customs union and single market access tagged onto any deal.

He said: “We’ve set all that out. I haven’t noticed any great change in the Government’s position so far. I’m waiting to see the red lines move.”

He added: “We will do everything we can to make sure there is no crashing out with no deal. That would be damaging for jobs. I believe something will happen this week to prevent that.”

(Image: PA)

A guarantee of a second referendum would be too much for Mrs May and even Mr Corbyn is lukewarm on the idea.

That puts him at odds with his deputy Tom Watson, a passionate backer of a people’s vote. Signatories to the MPs’ letter also include Shadow Minister for Disabled People Marsha de Cordova and Shadow Science Minister Chi Onwurah.

(Image: Getty)

It says: “The only way to guarantee jobs, rights and protections – and Labour ’s reputation with its membership and the electorate – is to support a confirmatory public vote.

“Any compromise deal agreed by Parliament will have no legitimacy if it is not confirmed by the public.”

Labour is deeply split on the issue, with 25 other Labour MPs sending their own letter to Mr Corbyn asking him to rule out another referendum.

The present sticking point is the PM’s refusal to make major changes to the EU political declaration on our future relationship with Europe.

(Image: Get Reading)

Mrs May said yesterday: “The longer this takes, the greater the risk of the UK never leaving at all.”

Chancellor Philip Hammond said there were “no red lines” in the talks and Mrs May was prepared to compromise.

But Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott insisted: “There has been no movement from the Government.”

One source close to the negotiations claimed only Mrs May’s deputy David Lidington and her chief of staff Gavin Barwell are keen for talks to succeed.

No10 claims the PM and Mr Corbyn have agreed that any deal must protect jobs and national security and end freedom of movement.

Mrs May also accepts Mr Corbyn’s demand that whatever is agreed between them will be written into law so it cannot be overturned by a Brexiteer such as Boris Johnson becoming PM.