Jeremy Corbyn has announced a major Labour move on Britain's EU withdrawal, telling his MPs the party will support a second referendum to prevent a "damaging Tory Brexit". 

In a significant development at Westminster, the Labour leader said that he would “put forward or support an amendment in favour of a public vote”.

Given that eight of the nine MPs who have left Labour are anti-Brexit, Mr Corbyn’s decision will be seen as an attempt to stem the defections by Remain Labour MPs to the newly formed Independent Group.

In recent days, senior Labour figures have been suggesting the party was “moving towards” backing a People’s Vote.

But some details are unclear following the policy shift, including what precise question would be on the ballot paper and would staying in the EU be an option. 

At this evening’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Mr Corbyn will tell his MPs: "The Prime Minister is recklessly running down the clock, in an attempt to force MPs to choose between her botched deal and a disastrous No Deal. We cannot and will not accept.

"Last week, after our visit to talk to EU officials and leaders in Brussels and Madrid, no one can be in any doubt Labour's alternative Brexit plan is serious and credible. We are convinced our alternative, which puts jobs and living standards first, could command support in the House of Commons, bring people who voted Leave and Remain together, and be negotiated with the EU.

"That's why we will be putting down an amendment in parliament this week setting out Labour's plan: for a comprehensive customs union with a UK say; close alignment with the single market; guarantees on rights and standards; protection for Britain's role in EU agencies; and a security agreement which guarantees access to the European arrest warrant and vital shared databases. And we will be calling for legislation to underpin this mandate.”

The Labour leader made clear that his party would also be backing the Cooper-Letwin amendment to rule out a No Deal outcome. 

“One way or another, we will do everything in our power to prevent no-deal and oppose a damaging Tory Brexit based on Theresa May's overwhelmingly rejected deal.”

But he then added: "That's why, in line with our conference policy, we are committed to also putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country."

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham and a supporter of the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum, said: "It is welcome news that the Labour Party is now, at long last, signalling it will accept the principle of giving the public the final say on Brexit.

"Even if MPs can agree some sort of deal, it would be wrong to force it on the British people when we now know so many of the promises made in 2016 have been broken and any deal will be worse than the one we've already got inside the EU.

"These are dangerous times for the Labour Party and our country. Jeremy Corbyn is today taking the first step to reunite our party by showing he is listening to our voters and members on this, the biggest issue of our time. But it is also crucial when food prices are already rising and car manufacturers are scrapping investment that we provide the clarity needed to plan for the future," he added.

His Labour colleague Clive Lewis, speaking on behalf of the pro-EU Best for Britain campaign, said: "This decision is a hugely positive step for the Labour Party and our movement as a whole. With this announcement we’re now offering real and unambiguous opposition to Tory Brexit and giving the public the final say on the issue. 

"To my mind, we would never have been forgiven for facilitating Tory Brexit. Especially as the true nature of this project has become increasingly clear to the public these past two years. Namely that it is a hard right, deregulating, race to the bottom economic agenda that has not and will not hesitate to indulge in dog-whistle politics and worse.”

The Norwich MP added: "The Labour leadership is clearly stating that if Labour’s alternative Brexit proposal is defeated this week, we will swing fully behind giving the public the final say on whether to leave the EU or stay and rebuild Britain and create a Europe for the many."