By Ben Kerrigan-
Jeremy Corbyn has expressed his plans to call the next Tory leader to hold another referendum before taking Britain out of the EU.
The Labour leader who also called for a general election said his political party had a “crucial, historic duty to safeguard jobs, rights and living standards, but no Brexit outcome alone can do that.”
In a letter to members, Mr Corbyn said: “Whoever becomes the new prime minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or no deal, back to the people in a public vote. He expressed his party’s confidence in the “compromise plan” set out for Brexit during cross-party talks with the government earlier this year as a “sensible alternative that could bring the country together”.
The plan includes a customs union, a strong single market relationship and the protection of environmental regulations and rights at work. Corbyn said he wanted to make it clear that Labour would campaign for Remain against either no deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.”
The announcement follows a shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, alongside a meeting with trade union leaders on Monday. The bosses of Labour’s five-biggest affiliated unions called for the move the party has made – but also for it to hold a “confirmatory vote” on any new deal it negotiated if Labour won a general election.
Euro skeptic MPs fear such a stance from the Labour party could damage the party’s next election performance. Mr Corbyn said Labour continued to believe the “compromise plan” set out for Brexit during cross-party talks with the government earlier this year was still a “sensible alternative that could bring the country together”. This included a customs union, a strong single market relationship and the protection of environmental regulations and rights at work.