Jeremy Corbyn has defended his party’s Brexit policy despite the party sinking to third place nationally in the EU elections.
Mr Corbyn said Labour “had a very clear policy” but did hint that Labour may be linking up to change its policy – of only calling a referendum when a general election is impossible to achieve – at its next conference this summer.
He said the party “will bring the issue back to conference in September”.
“We’re listening very carefully to what everyone has to say on this subject,” he added.
Mr Corbyn said: “There has to be an agreement with the EU, and there then has to be a public vote”
In his first comments since the election result, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC he supports a referendum on a Brexit deal but that his “priority” was a general election.
He said: “John (McDonnell) has also pointed out, and I support this, that any final deal has to be put to a public vote.
“What this party does is supports an agreement with the EU to prevent crashing out, supports putting that proposal when agreed to a public vote.”
But it comes as senior figures in his party called on them to go further and back a People’s Vote now.
Sir Keir Starmer has said a second referendum is the “only way” to break the Brexit impasse, after Labour suffered a mauling from voters in the European elections.
The shadow Brexit secretary said the public should be given the choice between a “credible leave option and remain”, as senior Labour figures called for the party to take a more strident position.
Jeremy Corbyn hinted the Labour Party may move closer to backing a second referendum after it received a drubbing which saw it lose half its MEPs and take just 15% of the vote.
(Image: Getty Images)
Sir Keir, writing on Twitter , said: “It’s no use trying to hide from these very disappointing results. We need to reflect hard and listen to our members, supporters and voters.
“The only way to break the Brexit impasse is to go back to the public with a choice between a credible leave option and remain.”
He added: “But as we move forward on this, we must remain united and able to speak to and for the country as a whole whichever way people voted in 2016.”
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour could unite the party and country by “taking (the) issue back to people in a public vote”.
