Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to abandon plans to give a speech calling for all Turkish citizens to gain access to the UK amid fears that it could push Britain out of the European Union.

Senior Labour party sources told this newspaper that Mr Corbyn had planned a major intervention this month in Istanbul calling for Turkey to join the EU, allowing it's 75 million people access to Britain under freedom of movement rules.

Sources inside the leader's office are understood to have intervened to get the speech scrapped, triggering a furious row.

The disclosure comes on the day of crucial local election results, which many figures in the party believe will determine Mr Corbyn’s future.