Jeremy Corbyn: If Theresa May can't deliver Brexit, she must give us an election

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to join Tory rebels and shut down Theresa May's Chequers deal to force the Prime Minister into a general election.

The move follows his announcement yesterday that he would join calls for a second EU referendum reluctantly, if that was what Labour voted for at this week's annual conference in Liverpool.

Mr Corbyn told the Mirror in an interview today: “If this Government can’t deliver Brexit then it must move over and have a General Election.”

In a departure for Corbyn, the move would mean his MPs and hard-line Brexiteer Tories would vote together against Mrs May's Chequers plan.

The eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg's European Research Group - described as a lobbying group which advises many prominent Tories - has advocated for stalling Mrs May's proposed plans and instead adopt a relationship similar to that of the EU and Canada.

Mr Rees-Mogg has denied claims he intends to oust the party leader, but there have been outside calls for Labour to back the group of Tory rebels.

40 Tory MPs have signalled they would vote against any Brexit deal that is based on Chequers, leaving her with 21 days to find an alternative solution.

Mr Corbyn added that Labour set six tests for any final deal including a strong relationship with Europe, the same rights, protections and benefits we have now and fair migration to boost Britain’s economy.

He said: “Chequers does not meet them. We are not happy with it and we would vote against it.

“That could trigger a General Election and we’re ready for it.”

Mrs May gave EU negotiators an ultimatum at her controversial Salzburg address on Friday night - calling on them to end the impasse over red-line issues - the customs union and our border with Ireland.

A vote on the final deal was due next month but is likely to be delayed as negotiations falter.

Mr Corbyn's comments come after an Observer poll found 86 per cent of Labour members think voters should have the final say on the outcome of Brexit negotiations, and 90 per cent would now vote to remain in the EU.

But a march of MPs, MEPs, union leaders and activists today continues to put pressure on the party to throw its weight behind a "People's Vote".

Echoing shadow Chancellor John McDonnell's sentiments that a second vote could "stoke xenophobia", Corbyn maintains the best solution is to push for a general election.

The news also coincides with reports in the Sunday Times that aids of the Prime Minister have begun a "contingency plan" in the event of a snap election, after EU leaders denounced her solid stance in favour of Chequers.

The newspaper reports that senior officials at Downing Street ran a "war gaming" simulation of an autumn vote to win back public backing.

This is also an uncredited report that May is attempting to keep the party together long enough to vote through Chequers, by promising to step down next Summer.

The government's proposals, drawn up at the Prime Minister's country retreat in June, push for "common rulebook" aligning the Uk with EU rules and trade regulations, while making demands that we don't fall under the jurisdiction of European courts and no more free movement of people.

Responding to claims that both wings of parliament are discussing an Autumn general election, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme the claims were "for the birds - it's not going to happen."