Brexit: Labour divisions emerge after Corbyn and Starmer take different lines on next steps

The leader’s spokesman was forced to reiterate that pushing for a new election is the party’s preference after the shadow Brexit secretary left it off a list of his ‘credible’ options

Labour discord over Brexit has re-emerged after Jeremy Corbyn’s office and senior shadow minister Sir Keir Starmer took different positions on the best next steps for the party.

The leader’s spokesman was forced to reiterate that pushing for a new election is the party’s preference after Sir Keir indicated that a compromise deal or a new referendum were the “only credible options now left”.

It follows claims that Sir Keir was left angry when the leader’s office removed a line from a Labour letter to Theresa May giving support to a people’s vote.

Meanwhile, those backing a new referendum in the party have become increasingly exasperated with Mr Corbyn’s failure to row in behind one, despite Labour’s agreed policy suggesting he should if an election is not obtainable.

The Independent has also campaigned for a fresh public vote through its Final Say campaign, with more than 1.1 million people having signed the petition.

Speaking to BBC radio Sir Keir said the option of a second referendum remains on the table, going further to add: “In reality, for the Labour Party, the only credible options now left are a close economic relationship – that’s the sort of relationship we spelt out in the letter to the prime minister last week – or a public vote.”

He declined to comment on the reports that the reference to a referendum was removed the letter to the PM.

When asked about the remarks, a spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: “The options are a general election, which remains our preferred option, some form of agreement along the lines Jeremy laid out in his letter to Theresa May, and failing that a public vote remains an option on the table.

“Keir agrees that a general election as laid out in our conference policy is our preferred option.”

Labour’s policy, agreed at its conference in September, committed the party to seeking an election if Ms May’s deal was rejected by the Commons – which it was in January.

The party was to then consider all options, including campaigning for a new public vote.

Mr Corbyn’s attempt to secure an election through a vote of no confidence in the government was also rejected last month, something that has not yet led to a concerted push for another referendum.

It did, however, lead to some Labour MPs saying that the party’s young voters “cannot understand why Labour is standing in the way” of them having a new vote.