Jeremy Corbyn is coming under fresh pressure to secure a second Brexit referendum before calling for a general election.
Backbench MPs asked the Labour leader to back a confirmatory vote on any deal, or deliver one during a caretaker government, at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party last night to determine its Brexit timeline.
The session in the Commons was said to be one of the most united for “a long time” with MPs from both Leave and Remain seats in agreement.
A source said: “There was an overwhelming sense that the room was very united. Jeremy Corbyn laid out our position and took remarks. It was some people’s position to have a referendum before a general election.”
An MP said: “I understand it was consensual. Members were clear on wanting a referendum before an election and Jeremy Corbyn did not rule it out."
MPs from different wings of the party were said to have agreed that a new referendum was more important than a snap election.
Many backed the idea of a confirmatory referendum that would make a new Brexit deal subject to a public vote.
They also said that if the Prime Minister refused to delay Brexit beyond October 31, there should be a vote of no confidence.
Several MPs then suggested that a Corbyn-led caretaker government should deliver a referendum with the backing of smaller parties and rebel Tories before an election.
Mr Corbyn’s position has been to prevent a no-deal Brexit followed by a general election.
At the Labour Party conference it was agreed that a Labour government would guarantee a referendum on a credible Leave option and an option to remain in the EU.
Mr Corbyn has insisted that, as leader of the Opposition, he should take over as stand-in premier if Boris Johnson is toppled by a vote of no confidence.
However, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has repeatedly rejected that possibility.
The Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford warned they were running out of time, telling the BBC: “When we call a motion of no confidence we have 14 days to put an administration in place.
"Once we get to the middle of October the options for us are beginning to close off. Everyone has to accept their responsibility.
"We are willing to do our part to bring Boris Johnson down — why are the other parties not prepared to do what is necessary to remove this man from office?”
He said allowing Mr Johnson to take Britain out of the EU without a deal would be a collective failure of leadership by the opposition.
