BBC host Justin Webb was overheard chuckling as he asked Sir Keir Starmer about Labour’s Brexit policy. On Tuesday, leader Jeremy Corbyn demanded the next Tory leader hold a second referendum before Brexit is delivered – and said the Labour Party will campaign for Remain “against either no-deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs”. Speaking on BBC’s Today programme, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer explained the party’s shift.

He said: “What happened yesterday was important partly because the position we adopted and this. We did it by consensus.

“The trade union movement has agreed with this position, the shadow cabinet agreed with this position by consensus and I know it is what the members want.

“That is a prize worth having at the moment within a political party.

“Now the trade unions earlier this week went out to set out in some detail what they think the position ought to be at an election, we did not adopt that yesterday because we need to know the circumstances of an election.”

BBC host Justin Webb interrupted, saying: “Hang on, there is a thing called logic.

“I understand you are going through the various people who have signed up to this now, and people will understand the importance of that in any political party.

“But, there is a thing called logic, and actually you can’t be campaigning effectively for Remain before an election and then saying afterwards we might change our minds, can you?”

The BBC host was heard chuckling as he asked the question before Sir Keir responded.

Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary said: “I accept that. There is a logic in that, we will build on the policy position we have got as we always do.

“But, what we never do, and it is not just on Brexit, for over many many years, the Labour Party always draws up its manifesto when the election is called, and then we go through a particular process.”

He added: “Having got to a position by consensus and a strong and clear position, clearly we build on that as we go into a manifesto.

“What I can’t do is suggest the shadow cabinet at this stage say what will be in our manifesto, we don’t know the terms of it. Obviously, a critical question has to be when that election is.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party will now challenge whoever emerges as the leader of the Conservative Party to have the confidence to put their deal to the people in a referendum, with remain on the ballot, in which Labour would campaign for remain.”

It comes after Mr Corbyn shifted the parties position on Brexit this week. In a letter to party members, Mr Corbyn said: “Now both Tory leadership candidates are threatening a no deal Brexit – or at best a race to the bottom and a sweetheart deal with Donald Trump.

“I have spent the past few weeks consulting with the shadow cabinet, MPs, affiliated unions and the NEC (national executive committee). I have also had feedback from members via the National Policy Forum consultation on Brexit.

“Whoever becomes the new prime minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or no-deal, back to the people in a public vote.

“In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign for Remain against either no-deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.”

BBC’s Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg claimed the move from the Labour Party was “white smoke of a sort”.

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She said: “Not entirely clear what happens if there isn’t a referendum that is in the next PM’s gift to call or not…standby for spin on both sides of labour debate about whether this is a real shift or not…

“For those pushing Remain it’s progress of a sort as Corbyn explicit that he’d support staying in the EU in that hypothetical scenario, but he doesn’t sign up to the manifesto demand which would have gone further…”.

But, Labour MP Hilary Benn, who is also chairman of the Commons’ Brexit Select Committee, tweeted: “This is a very significant announcement that will be widely welcomed in the Party. Labour supports a referendum on any Tory deal and will campaign for Remain.”

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage claimed the Labour Party would be “devastated” by the decision.

In response to the Labour announcement, Tory leadership contender Jeremy Hunt tweeted: “Jeremy Corbyn has never believed in Britain.

“In this country we deliver on the will of the people. We will deliver Brexit and make a success of it.”

Both Mr Hunt and former foreign secretary Boris Johnson have said they will seek to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s withdrawal, but would leave without a deal if they failed to do so.

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