Jeremy Corbyn has urged Tory rebels to help bring down the Government and force a General Election, as he admitted Labour cannot do it alone.
In a major speech in Wakefield, who voted to Leave in the EU Referendum, the Labour leader confirmed the party would vote against Theresa May’s deal in the Commons next week.
However, he stopped short of vowing to table a motion of no confidence straight away, instead saying they would do it when it has ‘the best chance of success’.
Mr Corbyn said: ‘Let there be no doubt. Theresa May’s deal is a bad deal for our country and Labour will vote against it next week in Parliament.
‘I say to Theresa May: if you are so confident in your deal, then call that election and let the people decide.
‘If not, Labour will table a motion of no confidence in the Government at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success.’
Sending a message to Tory Remainers who want to scupper Brexit, Mr Corbyn added: ‘Clearly, Labour does not have enough MPs in parliament to win a confidence vote on its own.
‘So, members across the House should vote with us to break the deadlock.
‘This paralysis cannot continue. Uncertainty is putting people’s jobs and livelihoods at risk.’
Despite calls from many in his own party for a second referendum, Mr Corbyn seemed hesitant to back it outright.
He went on: ‘If a General Election cannot be secured then we will keep all options on the table, including the option of campaigning for a public vote.
‘But an election must be the priority. It is not only the most practical option, it is also the most democratic option.
‘It could give the winning party a renewed mandate to negotiate a better deal for Britain and secure support for it in Parliament and across the country.
“Defeat for the Government’s central policy on Tuesday would be historic.
‘It would not only signal the failure of Theresa May’s premiership but the failure of the Conservative Party as a party of government.’
Mr Corbyn insisted there was ‘no split’ between himself and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer on extending the two-year process of negotiating withdrawal under Article 50 of the EU treaties.
Asked if he agreed with that it may be inevitable that the March 29 date for EU withdrawal would be delayed, Mr Corbyn said a Labour government would need ‘time’ to carry out a fresh negotiation with the EU.