Second poll plan set out by Shadow Chancellor

LABOUR WILL push for a vote on calling a second referendum as soon as Theresa May brings her Brexit deal back to the Commons.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said Labour would take the first opportunity to test whether MPs will back a public vote. But he stressed that Jeremy Corbyn’s party would also continue to press for its own Brexit vision and was still calling for a General Election.

Labour’s Brexit blueprint was defeated by 240 votes to 323 in the Commons on Wednesday night and Mr Corbyn confirmed Labour would now back a referendum if faced with a “damaging Tory Brexit” or a no-deal exit.

But he insisted that Labour would also continue to support “other available options” to prevent either the Prime Minister’s deal or the UK crashing out without an agreement.

On ITV’s Peston, the Shadow Chancellor set out Labour’s approach, saying the move would be made when Mrs May next risks a meaningful vote on her Brexit deal. “That’s the time when we will have to put the amendment up,” he said.

But he added: “We are still going to argue that we want a General Election, we are still going to argue we think our deal that we have put up was the best option.”

He suggested “a deal will go through which will protect jobs and the economy or, to get some deal through, it will be conditional on going back to the people”.

Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson have put forward a plan to back Mrs May with the condition that it is then put to a confirmatory public vote.