Jeremy Corbyn refuses six times to say whether Britain will be better off outside the European Union

Jeremy Corbyn refused six times to say whether he thinks Britain will be better off outside the EU.

In a Channel 4 News interview, Labour leader Mr Corbyn was repeatedly asked the question, but sidestepped it each time.

Asked for the first time during the interview if Britain will be better off outside the EU, Mr Corbyn said: “I want us to have a good relationship with the European Union.

"That’s what we have to have in order to maintain jobs in manufacturing supply chains and food processing.

“That has to be the priority now, so we have that effective trading relationship including a customs union with the European Union.”

The presenter then said he was only allowed to ask him one question: whether Mr Corbyn believed Britain will be better off outside the EU.

But Mr Corbyn refused to answer the question.

He said: “We are negotiating a future for Britain in relationship to the EU which maintains that trading relationship. That’s what we have to do.

“We have to defend jobs and we have to have an alignment with the European Union on regulations to ensure that we maintain food environmental and employment standards.”

The presenter asked the question on a further four occasions. Mr Corbyn refused to answer each time.

As a backbencher, veteran Islington North MP Mr Corbyn was a known Eurosceptic.

As Labour leader, he pushed for Britain to remain in the EU at the 2016 referendum, but was criticised for what was seen by many as lacklustre campaigning on the issue.

It led to a leadership challenge that autumn, in which Mr Corbyn emphatically beat Owen Smith.

Mr Corbyn this month faced growing pressure from his own MPs to discuss a party conference vote on whether to back a second referendum.

A poll also claimed 63 per cent of Labour members want a vote on the final terms of Theresa May’s deal.