Labour will table bid for second Brexit referendum within a fortnight, says John McDonnell

Follows Labour’s alternative Brexit plan being emphatically rejected by MPs during a series of late-night votes

Labour will put forward an amendment calling for a fresh EU referendum within a fortnight, John McDonnell has revealed.

After the party’s alternative Brexit plans were emphatically rejected during a series of late-night votes in the Commons, the shadow chancellor said Labour will make its pitch for a public vote when the next “meaningful vote” is held.

Theresa May has made clear she will bring her deal back for MPs to vote on by 12 March.

Mr McDonnell said this will be when Jeremy Corbyn puts the party’s amendment forward for a Final Say referendum on Brexit.

But speaking on ITV’s Peston programme, the shadow chancellor and close ally of the Labour leader, also stressed: “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.”

Minutes after losing the vote on his Brexit plans – by a margin of 240 to 323 votes – Mr Corbyn issued a statement, which 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 general election.”

But some raised concerns that the party could still dodge backing a Final Say, 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 anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, 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.”