Senior Labour MPs have been targeted by a pro-EU ad campaign, accusing them of "being in the pockets" of hardline Brexiteers.

Campaign group Our Future Our Choice (OFOC) unveiled the billboards on Monday, which depicted shadow chancellor John McDonnell poking out of the pocket of Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg.

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Nia Griffiths, Labour's shadow defence secretary, was also portrayed in a similar style, protruding from the pocket of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

The banners are a throwback to the Conservatives 2015 election campaign, which showed then-Labour leader Ed Miliband in the pocket of former SNP first minister Alex Salmond.


Image: The Conservatives launched a famous banner attacking Ed Miliband in 2015

The new ads were launched in frontbenchers' constituencies to urge them to back a "people's vote" on the final Brexit deal being negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May.

A referendum on the terms of the deal has been ruled out by the government, who instead plan to give MPs a say in parliament.

Image: Preet Gill deleted a tweet calling for a 'people's vote' on the Brexit deal

Will Dry, a spokesperson for OFOC, said the stunt was part of an "unrelenting campaign" to get the Labour leadership to back a nationwide poll on the deal.

Jeremy Corbyn has resisted the calls, and even sacked his shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith for breaking with the party's line.

Image: Jeremy Corbyn says Labour is not calling for a referendum on the Brexit deal

"We are not asking for a second referendum," Mr Corbyn said in January. He later added that the "ship had sailed" on Britain remaining in the EU.

Preet Gill, a shadow international development minister, is also depicted on OFOC's banners.

She wrote on Twitter last month that "a people's vote on the deal is an absolute must".

Ms Gill later deleted the post, and said she instead backed a "meaningful vote" in parliament.

Image: Labour's shadow defence secretary was also targeted in the stunt

A Labour source close to one of the shadow ministers targeted told Sky News: "This is an odd and baffling stunt.

"Trying to win over Labour MPs to the cause of a second referendum by campaigning against them in their constituencies is unsurprisingly likely to backfire."

OFOC was also jointly behind a protest at Labour Live, a festival held on Saturday.

Protesters interrupted Mr Corbyn's speech by unfurling a large banner bearing the slogan: "Stop Backing Brexit".