The ex-civil service chief advising Jeremy Corbyn has said the UK must reopen the decision to quit the EU if it is faced with a no-deal Brexit.

Lord Kerslake said the consequences of leaving without a deal in place would be so severe that parliament would have to re-examine the 2016 referendum result.

The peer’s intervention – in which he also suggested an extension to the Article 50 period may be needed – is the latest sign of pressure within Labour to move towards backing a new referendum, with the issue set to feature at this year’s party conference.

It also comes after The Independent launched its own Final Say campaign to demand a referendum on the outcome of Brexit, with more than 650,000 having signed our petition.

The peer, who has been advising Labour on preparing for government, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The consequences of a no-deal would be so serious as I think parliament would have to seriously consider whether it could contemplate this.

“The question people need ask themselves is, ‘is this a risk that they think we should be taking?’

Jacob Rees-Mogg suggests a second Brexit referendum would be acceptable in clip from 2011

“If the government can negotiate a good deal, then so be it. But if they can’t and we end up in this position, then we have to reopen the question of whether we go forward with Brexit at all. It is not too late to do that.”

The government is preparing to publish a series of technical notes on preparations for a no-deal Brexit next week, something Lord Kerslake said is “too little, too late”.

If they can’t [secure a deal]...then we have to reopen the question of whether we go forward with Brexit at all. It is not too late to do that Ex-civil service chief Lord Kerslake

He went on: “A pause to reflect would certainly be necessary. I think that is a pretty high probability now.

“But I think that pause would need to include – and I suspect this would be insisted on by the (European) Commission – some re-examination of the decision itself.”

Mr Corbyn has refused to commit to a further referendum so far, but has also shied away from explicitly ruling one out in the future.

The Independent has reported moves from grassroots groups to try and push the issue to a vote at this year’s party conference in Liverpool, with several shadow cabinet members said to be sympathetic.

The co-chairman of the pro-Brexit Leave Means Leave campaign group, Richard Tice, said Lord Kerslake’s intervention aimed to prepare the country for a delay to Britain’s withdrawal.

He said on the same programme: “What we have just heard from Lord Kerslake is part of the deliberate negativity from the civil service who are looking to soften people up in order to extend Article 50.

“It is completely unacceptable.”

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The protest is taking place on the second anniversary of the Brexit referendum. EPA/ANDY RAIN ANDY RAIN EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal epa06833264 Thousands of people march through London during a People's March anti Brexit demonstration in London, Britain, 23 June 2018. Protesters are calling for a referendum on the final deal. The protest is taking place on the second anniversary of the Brexit referendum. EPA/ANDY RAIN ANDY RAIN EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal epa06833265 Thousands of people march through London during a People's March anti Brexit demonstration in London, Britain, 23 June 2018. Protesters are calling for a referendum on the final deal. The protest is taking place on the second anniversary of the Brexit referendum. 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In a significant development in the drive for a new referendum, The Independent and the People’s Vote campaign are joining forces for a mass march through central London on 20 October.

The alliance will see the two organisations mobilise activists and media across the country to capture the growing tide of opinion that a further referendum on Brexit must be held.

An exclusive poll carried out by BMG Research this week found that 48 per cent of the public would now back a vote on any deal struck between the UK and the EU – up from 44 per cent just four weeks ago.