Jeremy Corbyn: Labour would consider delaying Brexit if it was in power

Jeremy Corbyn today suggested a Labour government would look to delay Brexit to allow time for further negotiations with Brussels.

Speaking in Wakefield, the Labour leader said if his party were in power before March 29 – when the UK is set to leave the EU – there would need to be time to reopen talks with European leaders. 

Corbyn could find himself as Prime Minister if the government lost a vote of no confidence in parliament, but the Labour leader refused to commit to tabling such a motion in the immediate aftermath of Theresa May's Brexit deal being rejected by MPs next week.

He also hit out at the apparent concessions made by May over workers' rights after Brexit – including the promise that MPs would be able to consider any improvements in this area by Brussels once the UK has left the EU.

Asked about extending the Article 50 negotiating process if he was in Downing Street – a move flagged up by Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday – Corbyn said: "Moving into office in a period right up against the clock there would be need to be time for that negotiation.

"What Keir was doing was reflecting the practicalities of how that negotiation would be undertaken."

Corbyn was asked when he would move a vote of no confidence against the government, with some Labour frontbenchers suggesting in recent days it would be immediately after May's deal was rejected.

The Labour leader replied: "We will move a motion of no confidence in the government at a time of our choosing when we judge the best chance would be of success in doing that."

Corbyn used his speech to focus to insist that Leave and Remain voters are "not against each other" as he spoke of the need to bring the country together after Brexit.

He said: "I would put it like this: if you’re living in Tottenham you may well have voted to Remain.

"You’ve got high bills rising debts. You’re in insecure work. You struggle to make your wages stretch and you may be on universal credit, and forced to access food banks.

"You’re up against it.

"If you’re living in Mansfield, you are more likely to have voted to Leave.

"You’ve got high bills, rising debts, you’re in insecure work, you struggle to make your wages stretch and you may be on universal credit and forced to access food banks.

"You’re up against it."