Second referendum plan pulled by MPs as they blame Jeremy Corbyn for a lack of support

MPs campaigning for another EU referendum have dropped plans to push for a Commons vote on the plan, blaming Jeremy Corbyn’s lack of support.

A cross-party group, led by Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, used a press conference outside Parliament to announce a proposed amendment to Theresa May’s Brexit motion had been abandon.

The amendment, which could have been voted on by MPs next Tuesday, would not have had any legal effect, but if it passed it would have handed a huge boost to the ‘People’s Vote’ campaign.

While Wollaston is a supporter of the ‘People’s Vote’, the organisation itself were not involved in the decision to pull the amendment.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is so far refusing to back another referendum, with many Labour MPs opposed to a second vote.

Without the support of the Labour leadership, the amendment was unlikely to pass.

Wollaston, flanked by fellow Tory Philip Lee and Labour MPs Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie and Luciana Berger, appealed directly to Corbyn to support the People’s Vote campaign.

She said: “We would like to appeal again to him to give his unequivocal backing to a People’s Vote, in which case we could make progress.”

Berger was strident in her criticism of her party, saying there was “an urgent need for leadership”.

She added: “Regrettably, the Labour leadership won’t commit to an achievable policy.

“Yet we know that the majority of Labour voters, supporters and members want a final say on any Brexit deal.

“At a time when Labour should be championing a people’s vote, the leadership avoids answering that call.”

A spokesperson for the People’s Vote campaign said it is “up to MPs what amendments they table and when”, adding that the group supported other plans by MPs, including one from Yvette Cooper to extend the negotiating time.

They added: “Our campaign continues to gather momentum and increase support but a People’s Vote will probably not secure a majority in the House of Commons until every Brexit option has been exhausted. But when it becomes clear there is no majority for any Brexit option, the only way forward will be a People’s Vote.”

Activists at Labour’s party conference last September instructed the party to only support another referendum if it was unable to secure a general election.

After the Conservatives survived a vote of no confidence last week, pressure has been growing for Corbyn to switch the party to a second referendum footing.

However, some Labour MPs are strongly opposed to the idea, with Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn threatening to resign her frontbench position if Corbyn shifted to backing another national poll.

Just hours before the amendment was pulled, international forecasting group the Economist Intelligence Unit, argued the chance of another referendum as “risen sharply” as the UK parliament remains in deadlock over Brexit.

The Unit put the chances of a poll at 50%, up from 30% two weeks ago,