Jeremy Corbyn has avoided saying whether he will use his party’s whips to order Labour MPs to vote in favour of triggering Article 50.

The Labour leader was asked three times on Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme whether he would use whips and refused to give a decisive answer.

Asked what Labour’s policy on leaving the EU is, Mr Corbyn said: “We accept the result of the referendum. It’s clear.”

“It’s the result of a democratic decision that was made, Parliament must reflect that. We therefore have to negotiate a way out. Therefore Article 50 gives us the responsibility and the opportunity to negotiate.”

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He said such negotiations must include an effective trading relationship with Europe and ensure that regulations on environment and European arrest warrants are continued in some form.

“So we will not block Article 50,” he said. “We will, however, amend the Bill to make demands on market access, in order to make demands on regulation."

However, Mr Corbyn avoided saying whether he was prepared to use the party whips to get his MPs to support Article 50.

“What we’re saying is we will not block Article 50,” Mr Corbyn replied.

Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Show all 13 1 /13 Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Supreme Court Brexit Challenge People wait to enter the public gallery outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private arrives at the Supreme court in London on the first day of a four-day hearing Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waves the EU flag in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Satirical artist Kaya Mar poses with two of his paintings in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin. The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Businesswoman Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Attorney General Jeremy Wright arrives at the Supreme Court in London EPA Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Protesters outside the Supreme Court in London, where the Government is appealing against a ruling that the Prime Minister must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union PA wire Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protesters wearing a judge's wigs and robes stands outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waiting to enter the public gallery waves a European Union flag outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters

Asked again whether he will use the whips, he said: “The Government is being challenged in the Supreme Court on whether or not it should consult Parliament. We have forced them into a position where they have said Parliament will finally get a vote on this issue.

“We will not block Article 50 but we will seek to amend the Bill. We are consulting on amendments to the Bill which will include issues on rights, on protections and on market access.”

Pushed for an answer a third time, Mr Corbyn said: “I will ask all Labour MPs to respect the result of the referendum and allow Article 50 to be opened so we start that two year, probably longer, period of negotiation.”