Labour will only consider new Brexit referendum if UK is facing 'no-deal disaster', says Corbyn

Labour will consider backing a fresh referendum on Brexit only if the country is on the brink of the “disaster of no deal”, Jeremy Corbyn has said.

The Labour leader confirmed he would table repeat votes of no confidence to try to trigger a general election – despite Theresa May’s comfortable defeat of his first attempt on Wednesday.

Labour will also push for a Commons vote on its own Brexit plan – a customs union, “strong” alignment with the single market and protected workers’ and environmental rights – later this month.

Only then, if “the country is facing the potential disaster of no deal”, would Labour consider support for a Final Say public vote, Mr Corbyn said.

He also hinted that he would oppose Labour fighting any fresh Brexit referendum on a platform of Remain, warning it could not be “a rerun of what happened in 2016”.

Sir Vince Cable responded immediately by announcing the Liberal Democrats would not back Labour in future no-confidence votes – reducing further his chance of success – to get him “off the fence”.

“Since he appears to be determined to play party political games rather than acting on the wishes of his own members and MPs, he will no longer be able to rely on our support,” the Lib Dem leader said.

Speaking in Hastings, Mr Corbyn defended his decision not to enter talks with the prime minister to try to solve the Brexit crisis, unless she ruled out a no-deal departure.

“Last night’s offer of talks with party leaders turned out to be simply a stunt, not the serious attempt to engage with the new reality that’s needed,” he told party activists.

“I say to the prime minister again: I am quite happy to talk – but the starting point for any talks about Brexit must be that the threat of a disastrous no-deal outcome is ruled out.”

On Labour’s tactics, Mr Corbyn said: “We believe that the best outcome for the country remains a general election to break the deadlock and find a solution that works for the whole country.

“And that is why I tabled a motion of confidence, and we will come back with it again if necessary.

The Labour leader stuck to his pro-Brexit stance, insisting Labour’s plan could “help to bring people together and overcome the divisions in our country”.

“But if the government remains intransigent, if support for Labour’s alternative is blocked for party advantage, and the country is facing the potential disaster of no deal, our duty will then be to look at other options which we’ve set out in our conference motion, including the option of a public vote.”

On Labour’s position, if there is a fresh referendum, Mr Corbyn said the party as a would decide “what our view would be”.

But he warned: “I can’t really go along with the idea that it should simply be a rerun of what happened in 2016.

“There has to be a discussion about the options that we’ve put forward – the three options that I outlined in my speech [customs union; single market alignment; and protecting rights].”