Jeremy Corbyn says Boris Johnson's Brexit deal 'worse than Theresa May's'

Labour leader says the 'best way to get Brexit sorted is to give the people the Final Say in a public vote'

(Reuters)

Jeremy Corbyn has branded Boris Johnson's Brexit deal "worse" than Theresa May's, as he called for a Final Say referendum.

In a statement released just minutes after No 10 and Brussels announced a new deal had been reached, the Labour leader said: "This sell out deal won't bring the country together and should be rejected."

He added the "best way to get Brexit sorted is to give the people the final say in a public vote" – a clear hint he would whip his MPs to support any amendment on a second referendum during Saturday's extraordinary Commons sitting.

"From what we know, it seems the prime minister has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May's, which was overwhelmingly rejected," he added.

"The proposals risk triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers' rights, and opening up our NHS to a takeover by US private corporations."

It remains unclear whether a referendum amendment will be tabled on 19 October, which is expected to be the first Saturday sitting of both Houses of Parliament since the Falklands War, taking place as hundreds of thousands of supporters of a People's Vote flood the streets of the capital in the Together for the Final Say march.

Speaking on Wednesday, Jenny Chapman, a shadow Brexit minister, said Labour would support the amendment and when asked whether Mr Corbyn supported this position, she replied: "He's told me this."

Mr Corbyn's remarks follow the joint announcement from the prime minister and the European Commission president Jean Claude-Juncker that a new Brexit agreement had been secured in Brussels.

His remarks followed a joint announcement from the prime minister and the European Commission president Jean Claude-Juncker that a new Brexit agreement had been reached in Brussels.

Negotiators struck the deal in the early hours of Thursday morning, but questions still remain about whether the deal can gain enough support back in Westminster, given the DUP has rejected the Brexit deal.

DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy Nigel Dodds issued a joint statement denouncing the prime minister's plans.

It said: “As things stand, we could not support what is being suggested on customs and consent issues and there is a lack of clarity on VAT.

"We will continue to work with the government to try and get a sensible deal that works for Northern Ireland and protects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom.”

After Mr Johnson announced he had a deal, a DUP source told The Independent: “Read our statement. It hasn’t changed."