Owen Smith promises a second referendum on Brexit deal if elected Labour leader

Leadership challenger says country deserves 'second chance' to vote on whatever deal politicians come up with

Owen Smith has launched a rival anti-Corbyn leadership challenge to Angela Eagle (REUTERS)

Owen Smith has promised to hold a second referendum on any Brexit deal if he is elected leader of the Labour Party.

The leadership challenger, who announced he was running in the contest against Jeremy Corbyn and Angela Eagle on Tuesday morning, has said he will offer the public a chance to vote on any deal Britain strikes with the EU.

Mr Smith, who resigned as shadow Work and Pensions Secretary during the revolt against Mr Corbyn's leadership last month, has said the public will want "another chance" to vote on the deal.

"We should give them another chance," he told the Guardian: "That does mean a second referendum or a general election when the terms are clear. The Labour Government should be committing to that.

"There are many people out there who voted in good faith for Brexit and who felt they were doing the right thing for their families and their communities and I respect them for taking that decision.

"But I think a lot of people I know are now saying to themselves, ‘It wasn’t the right decision.’ A lot of people are angry that they were quite clearly misled by the Brexit campaign."

He attacked Mr Corbyn's refusal to resign following the overwhelming vote of no-confidence.

Mr Smith called it "selfish" and said the party is "teetering on the brink of being destroyed".

The MP for Pontypridd urged his colleagues not to resign themselves to a split in the party and instead they must try to "wrest the steering wheel" from the people who are forcing Labour to "career towards a cliff".

He refused to be drawn on whether his fellow anti-Corbyn colleague, Angela Eagle, should resign but said it would be "ideal" if there was only one Stop Corbyn candidate in the race.

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) voted to allow Mr Corbyn an automatic place on the ballot - rather than gathering 51 MPs - by 18 to 14.

The decision means the future of the party's leadership will solely be up to the membership - but only members who joined before January.

The NEC made the decision to exclude the 100,000 new members who have joined the party since the leadership revolt began on 24 June.

People wishing to vote in the election can still pay £25 to register as a supporter over a two day period from Thursday to Saturday.

A petition, which has now reached over 30,000 signatures, was launched within minutes of the result being announced demanding that the decision be reversed.