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A top Labour MP has shredded calls for a second EU referendum, saying she is "really worried" it won't solve the Brexit crisis.

Angela Rayner revealed she'd vote Remain if there is a new public vote - but warned holding one at all would show MPs had "failed the public".

And she said the public don't want to delay Brexit - despite Labour being poised to do just that, and the Shadow Brexit Secretary warning it may be "inevitable".

The Shadow Education Secretary's comments emphasise a split in the Labour party on whether Jeremy Corbyn should swing behind a so-called 'People's Vote'.

A poll this month found 72% of Labour members back a new referendum. Yet only 71 Labour MPs have publicly demanded one and Mr Corbyn is resisting calls to back it.

Instead the party is still keeping a second referendum as an "option on the table".

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Ms Rayner told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "I would be really worried about a second referendum to be honest.

"I don’t think people necessarily will expect the result they get.

"I think if anything it will be very narrow.

"And worst case scenario is it will be a very narrow Remain. And then what? We’re going to have the best of three?"

Labour is seriously considering backing a bid to delay Brexit beyond March 29 this Tuesday night, in order to prevent a No Deal.

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The Commons amendment by MP Yvette Cooper is likely to pass if Labour backs it. If it does, MPs would choose how long to extend Brexit for, before asking for approval from the EU.

Yet Ms Rayner said: "I don't think people want to see a delay in Article 50 [which set the date of Brexit]".

She added: "I think that if we end up in a second referendum, us as politicians have failed the public. We’ve failed to be able to do our job.

"I will see that as a really difficult situation for us all to be in."

However, if there was a new vote, she added: "I probably would vote Remain.

(Image: Xinhua / Barcroft Images)

"I would probably vote Remain and the reason is I've seen over the last 2.5 years all the analysis we have got at the moment.

"We're in the EU, we get benefits from being part of the EU and I believe that to be the right thing for the UK.

"I believed that at the start of this process when I made my first vote and I still believe that to be the case."

When asked if Labour would back Yvette Cooper's Brexit amendment, Ms Rayner signalled the party would - but only if it's "the only option we have".

(Image: PA)

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She said: "Labour will do whatever it takes to avoid a no-deal Brexit, so if that's the only option we have it's something we will seriously consider.

"Let me be as clear as I possibly can be for the people that are listening to this programme - we've put our amendment down, we've said we respected the result of the referendum, we want to find a deal, we want a customs union, we want protection for environment, consumer, employment. We've said that all along.

" Theresa May will not budge on her red lines, she's forcing us and trying to bully us into a no-deal scenario.

"We will do whatever it takes, through Parliament, to stop that no-deal scenario from happening. If that means backing an amendment, then we will do that."