The Labour peer, an outspoken campaigner for a second referendum, is now standing for Labour in the upcoming European elections. But in September, he told LBC host Iain Dale: “If you’re a Brexiteer, I hope you won’t vote for the Labour Party because the Labour Party is moving increasingly against Brexit.” Incredulous, Mr Dale reminded him: “30-40 percent of Labour voters support Brexit.

“So you ignore all of those Labour voters in northern Labour constituencies.”

The Lord simply replied: “By definition, therefore, the majority are against Brexit.”

The peer took to Facebook on Thursday to post a long apology, saying: “I am deeply sorry for off-the-cuff comments I made during a live LBC radio phone-in last September.

“I encourage all voters, whatever their position on Brexit, to vote Labour in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

“In our dangerously divided society, Labour is the only political party seeking to bring remain and leave voters together so that we can get on with the job of ensuring our country works for the many, not the few.

“Labour has always been clear that it respects the result of the referendum. What we do not respect is the way the Conservatives have sought to use Brexit to create a more unequal economy and a harsher society.

“A vote for Labour is a vote for so much more than just Brexit. A vote for Labour is a vote for a more prosperous, fair and united country.”

Responding to the apology, Change UK’s Chuka Umunna wrote: “I thought this was a spoof account when I read this on my friend Andrew Adonis’ page but then I remembered he is now standing for Labour⁩ in the European elections and so has been gagged by the leadership.

“Bye bye Peoples Vote and Remain, hello soft Brexit. So disappointing.”

Meanwhile, Pressure is mounting on Theresa May to name a date to quit as Prime Minister, after an influential committee of backbenchers demanded “clarity” over what she will do if her EU withdrawal deal fails.

The chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, said on Wednesday it would be “a surprising response” if Mrs May suggested she might stay on as late as December this year.

The threat of an imminent challenge to Mrs May’s position as Conservative leader was lifted as the committee’s executive decided not to change party rules which protect her from a no-confidence vote until December.

But it took two lengthy meetings before the executive rejected proposals to allow a vote as early as June, reportedly by a narrow margin of nine votes to seven.

Sir Graham made clear he remained ready to convey MPs’ concerns about her leadership to Mrs May.

And he asked the Prime Minister to set out a “timetable and schedule” for her departure in the case that her Withdrawal Agreement fails to secure parliamentary approval.

Asked on ITV News whether Mrs May might reply that she planned to stay on until December, Sir Graham said: “I think that would be a surprising response.

“We have communicated our request, which is in very clear terms, for proper clarity about her plans for departure should the Withdrawal Agreement not be approved.

“We need to hear her response to that and colleagues will of course form their own judgment when they receive that response.”

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