Brexit news latest: Jeremy Corbyn has Boris Johnson’s most sensitive parts in his hands, says Tony Blair

Jeremy Corbyn has Boris Johnson’s “most sensitive parts of his political anatomy in his hands” and should try to force him into calling another Brexit referendum, Tony Blair said today.

The ex-prime minister praised Mr Corbyn for not falling into the “trap” of agreeing to an October 15 general election.

With a Bill to stop an EU crash-out on October 31 due to pass the Lords today, Mr Blair writes in the Evening Standard: “Jeremy Corbyn is now in control of whether no-deal happens. 

“He has the most sensitive parts of Johnson’s political anatomy in his hands. Johnson cannot move without his consent.”

Given the deadlock in Parliament over Brexit, Mr Blair argued that Britain’s future with the EU should be decided “direct” in a referendum, rather than in an election where other issues are at play and where the Tories hope the Opposition vote will be split between the different parties.

Mr Corbyn and other opposition leaders were holding a fresh round of talks today to seek a united position on an election date, with options including late October after an EU summit or after the October 31 deadline which could force Mr Johnson into breaking the law or ditching his “do or die” pledge for the UK to leave by then.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Labour would block another attempt on Monday to get two thirds of MPs to trigger a general election on October 15 because of concerns Mr Johnson could then seek to push Britain out of the EU with no deal on October 31.

International Development Secretary Alok Sharma criticised the no-deal legislation for “pulling the rug” from under the Government’s negotiating position. On a October 15 election, he said: “We need to trust the British people. That is something that Jeremy Corbyn is clearly not prepared to do.” 

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said he might not support moves for an election until after the prorogation of Parliament which starts next week, in order to avoid “unintended consequences”.