Brexit news latest: Labour members vote to leave door open for second referendum

Labour has opened the door to reversing Britain's decision to leave the European Union, by backing a potential second referendum.

The party's conference in Liverpool voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to keep the option of a fresh vote "on the table".

The motion put to delegates does not commit the party to a referendum, and makes clear that its preferred option would be an early general election.

It comes after shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer took the conference by storm with an unscripted pledge that a public vote on whether to remain in the EU might be staged.

Sir Keir won a standing ovation from a large majority of delegates when he spoke earlier in the day, though some remained firmly in their seats.

His declaration that "nobody is ruling out Remain as an option" was not included in printed copies of his speech distributed to the media, sparking speculation that he may have gone beyond the position agreed by Labour's high command.

But leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the contents of the speech had been cleared by his office in advance.

He said Labour would subject any deal reached by Theresa May with Brussels to the six tests set out by Sir Keir, including that it should deliver "the exact same benefits" as single market and customs union membership.

And he said Labour was prepared to vote the PM's deal down.

Both Sir Keir and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry told the conference that they would personally vote Remain in any re-run referendum.

But Mr Corbyn himself repeatedly declined to say which way he would vote, telling Five News: "It depends what the question is in the referendum... We will decide as a party when the referendum comes what our position will be.

"I think it's pretty obvious what party members are thinking at this conference."