Sir Keir Starmer said it made little sense to pitch for a second referendum yet

Labour will not push for a vote on a second referendum this week even if Theresa May’s deal is resoundingly defeated, the party’s shadow Brexit secretary said.

In a tactical move, Jeremy Corbyn’s party will not lay an amendment to the vote on the prime minister’s deal calling for it to be put to the public. Instead it will whip its MPs to oppose Mrs May’s deal and back a move to force her to request an extension to Article 50.

The decision is a victory for second referendum supporters who fear that putting their policy to a vote too early could lead to a big Commons defeat.

Strategists behind the People’s Vote campaign have been urging Labour to hold off and only go for