Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn under pressure to move on to new referendum after his plans defeated

‘We will back a public vote in order to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit or a disastrous no-deal outcome,’ says Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn is under new pressure to fully back giving the public a Final Say on Brexit after his own version of EU withdrawal was emphatically rejected in the Commons.

His vision of the UK leaving Europe was defeated by a margin of 240 votes to 323, meaning the leader will now be expected to fulfil a promise to bring forward or support a vote to approve a new referendum.

The 83-vote defeat comes after Mr Corbyn told Labour MPs on Monday that he was ready to support moves to demand a public vote, having lost a string of MPs who resigned in part over his Brexit strategy.

After the defeat, Mr Corbyn said: “We will back a public vote in order to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit or a disastrous no-deal outcome.

“We will also continue to push for the other available options to prevent those outcomes, including a close economic relationship based on our credible alternative plan or a general election.”

Mr Corbyn’s “constructive ambiguity” on Brexit has long frustrated those in his party who back a People’s Vote and played a part in eight of the MPs who defected going to form the new Independent Group last week.

Labour’s annual conference voted to keep a second referendum on the table, but made it clear that the party’s priority was an early election to allow it to implement its Brexit plan for a customs union with a UK say, close ties with the single market and dynamic alignment with EU workplace and environmental regulations.

Speaking to MPs on Monday, Mr Corbyn said Labour would put forward its plans in an amendment to the government’s Brexit motion on Wednesday, but was also committed to “putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country”.

A briefing note to Labour MPs made clear the party would back the inclusion of remaining in the EU on the ballot paper, as an alternative to a “credible Leave option”, but would not back no-deal being a choice on offer.

But some raised concerns that the party could still dodge backing a People’s Vote, after frontbencher Richard Burgon tweeted: “Disappointing that Labour’s Brexit motion didn’t pass. But given parliament looks set to extend Article 50, there’ll be further opportunities to secure support for Labour’s alternative Brexit deal.

“This would bring the country together and defend jobs, rights and our security.”

Labour’s David Lammy, a supporter of the Best for Britain campaign for a second referendum, said: “It’s become clear today that there is no majority in the house for May’s deal, but also that Labour’s alternative plan cannot command a majority either.

“In the key votes ahead of us we must extend Article 50 to take a catastrophic no-deal off the table and use that time to put this decision back to the people to decide if they back the government’s botched Brexit deal or staying in our current EU deal.”

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour could push for a referendum as soon as Theresa May’s deal comes back to parliament.

He told ITV’s Peston: “When the meaningful vote comes back, and we are told maybe that might be on March 12, there are rumours today that it could be next week, we will see. That’s the time when we will have to put the amendment up.”

However, 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. But we realise we have got to break this deadlock.”

He suggested that “either 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”.