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Jeremy Corbyn dismissed another Brexit vote as not “a priority” tonight as he dashed Remainers' hopes of Labour backing for a second referendum.

The party leader has come under mounting pressure to support a second poll, as Theresa May prepares to present MPs with a “take it or leave it” choice on her withdrawal deal.

But Mr Corbyn, who spent 32 years on the backbenches as a eurosceptic before campaigning for Remain after winning the party leadership in 2015, risked disappointing Labour's pro-EU members with his comments.

Quizzed about a second referendum at a ReachFest event in London, hosted by the Mirror's parent company Reach, he told guests: “I don't see that as a priority.”

As the Prime Minister was engulfed by unprecedented threats to her premiership following a five-hour Cabinet showdown, he insisted Labour was ready for a snap election – and shouldering the responsibility of starting fresh talks with Brussels.

“We have to reopen the negotiations quickly,” he vowed.

“We would do a better deal.”

(Image: Coventry Telegraph)

Challenged over what Labour's Brexit policy would be for a general election, he insisted the party would decide.

“It's a very democratic party,” he said.

“Listen, I am not a dictator.”

The Labour chief also revealed his MPs would be whipped to tow the party line in a crunch Commons vote on the Prime Minister's EU divorce pact.

“We will be voting as a party,” he confirmed.

Mr Corbyn was tackled over criticism of Labour's “six tests” for backing a Brexit deal from his own Shadow Cabinet.

Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner dismissed the tests as “b*******” over the summer.

The Labour leader revealed Mr Gardiner had apologised to him.

(Image: BBC)

Mr Corbyn confided: “He said to me he was very sorry for using bad language.”

He also used the 50-minute panel debate in Soho, London, to blast the Government's universal credit roll-out and homelessness

And discussing plans to revive ailing high streets, he said he “didn't think” he had ever used Amazon for online shopping.

“If we all do that kind of shopping our high streets become payday loan companies, coffee shops and very little else,” warned the party chief.

He also launched a bid to shore up his support among youngsters, some of whom are angry he has failed to be tougher on the Government over Brexit.

“Young people have for too long been told, 'You're going to have to pay for your education, you better think about private healthcare, you better think about private pensions and you better be thinking about paying for your education',” he said.

“Surely as a society, if we want – as we must have – that skilled, educated workforce for the future then we have to invest in education, training and skills.”

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Corbyn backed hiking corporation tax from 20% to 26% and renewed Labour's support for a mass renationalisation programme.

“In the case of the water industry they are taking out loans in order to pay shareholders,” he said.

“Surely what they should be doing is investing in our water service, not paying out all these dividends.”

He was also grilled about his feelings on Britain's nuclear deterrent.

The Labour leader – a veteran Stop the War and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament activist – distanced himself from the policy of the party he leads, which is to renew the Trident submarine system.

He said: “I have a whole lifetime history of being appalled by nuclear weapons and nuclear warfare.”