Jeremy Corbyn will campaign for the UK to remain in the EU if Boris Johnson tries to implement a no-deal Brexit.

The Labour leader told Sky News that he would back a second referendum which would put the Brexit deal against no deal, and promised that any Labour-negotiated deal would also go to the people for a vote.

But he failed to commit to campaigning to remain if Labour brought a deal to a referendum.

He told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "No deal we'll oppose and we think people should have a final choice on it. They can have a vote then between Remain and whatever option Boris Johnson decides to put to them at that time.

"If we are in power, yes of course, the same thing would apply because I want to make sure we get to the end of this process where we have a fixed position in this country.


"What we said is in the event of a no-deal Brexit we will campaign to remain."

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The opposition leader also said he is "absolutely" preparing to take on new Prime Minister Mr Johnson in a general election, but won't commit to calling a confidence vote in the new prime minister.

Speaking in Mansfield, a Nottinghamshire town that was represented by the Labour Party for almost a century before it elected its first Conservative MP in 2017, he said: "I've got my summer campaign plan in place, we've got most of our candidates selected in all our marginal constituencies.

"We have many other policy announcements in place, particularly the ones on the Green Industrial Revolution and the Green New Deal that we're putting forward, and working out more details on our health and social care policies.

"But fundamentally it's about reducing inequality in Britain and about investing in good quality sustainable jobs for the future through the Green Energy Revolution."

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Asked about whether he would do what he could to trigger an election by calling a confidence vote in the government, Mr Corbyn said he would "look at the situation" when parliament reconvenes in September.

He added: "But it's also up to the prime minister and what he decides to do as well, because if he is trying to take us out on a no-deal Brexit at the end of October we will oppose that."

He said Labour would choose when to call the confidence motion, and did not guarantee it would be before Britain leaves the EU.

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His words come just days after Mr Johnson took over leadership of the Conservative Party, replacing Theresa May.

Since he became prime minister, Mr Johnson has pledged to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers and promised a high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds, as well as better broadband connectivity.

The emphasis on the domestic agenda has fuelled speculation he is keeping his options open for a snap general election, despite his strong denials.

The new PM has been given a boost after a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times put the Tories on 31%, up six points on a previous poll, while Mr Corbyn's party was on 21%, a rise of two points.

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When asked if he was worried about competing with Mr Johnson at the next election, Mr Corbyn said: "Not in the slightest.

"We'll go out there and we'll make our case.

"I don't get involved in personal abuse, I don't make any personal abuse, I don't do personal, as far as I'm concerned the issues are too serious.

"We live in a country that is more unequal than almost any other in Europe, that is becoming more unequal, that in many parts of the country there has been no real investment since the end of the miners' strike. Where we are today in Mansfield is an example of that.

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"We have to have a change of approach and it has to be about investment, it has to be about real opportunities for young people so they don't go into university and come out with debt. They do get the choice - a real choice - of an apprenticeship or a university education."

Marginal seats such as Mansfield could decide the next election, but despite speculation there could be an election soon, new members of the government have denied there are plans in place.

Chief secretary to the treasury Rishi Sunak told Sophy Ridge there are no plans for an election, and that the government remains focused on delivering Brexit.

He said: "We are certainly not planning [for an election].

"We are committed to getting the EU to renegotiate the undemocratic backstop, and if they won't, then leaving the EU on 31 October.

"That is the priority focus of this government.

"We don't need any more elections, we certainly don't need more referendums."