Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed criticism from Birmingham MP Jess Phillips over his party's policy towards Brexit.

Ms Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, claimed the party was suffering because it failed to make it clear whether it backed Brexit or not.

She said: "The Labour Party need to genuinely decide whether it’s a party that backs Brexit or a party that doesn’t back Brexit. We haven’t had a clear message."

But asked whether he agreed, Mr Corbyn told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: "No, she’s not right because she fought the last General Election just like I did on a manifesto that said we respect the results of the referendum and we would seek to negotiate the best deal we could with Europe and then be prepared to put that to a public vote and that is exactly what the position is."

Labour's 2017 general election manifesto did not include the promise of a public vote on Brexit, but Mr Corbyn did appear to confirm that it was now Labour policy.

Pressed by presenter Andrew Marr on whether Labour "could or could not go for another referendum", Mr Corby replied: "We would want a vote in order to decide what the future would be, so yes."

Jeremy Corbyn at a Black Country community meeting in Dudley
Jeremy Corbyn at a Black Country community meeting in Dudley

The country will vote in European Elections on Thursday, with the results announced on Sunday night.

Some opinion polls have suggested that Nigel Farage's Brexit Party will do well, with the Conservatives pushed down to fourth or even fifth place.

Most polls suggest that Labour will receive the second highest share of the vote, although one recent survey by YouGov put the Liberal Democrats in second place.

Prime Minister Theresa May is to make a final attempt to convince MPs to back her proposed withdrawal agreement with the EU - allowing Brexit to take place - in a House of Commons vote in the week beginning June 3.

If she fails, she will set out the timetable for her exit and the leadership contest to succeed.

But potential leadership candidates are already setting out their stalls.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out a bid for the job, saying he had a "strong view about the sort of leader we need".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's flattering that lots of people have asked me to put my name forward and proposed to support me."

Jess Phillips
Jess Phillips

He said the leader should put the Tories "four-square in the centre ground", a view that will be echoed by big hitters at a meeting of the One Nation group of Tories in Parliament on Monday night.

Meanwhile, former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey will deliver her own pitch at the launch of Blue Collar Conservatism, a group aimed at winning over working-class voters to the Tories.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has already confirmed he will stand in the race to replace Mrs May, which is due to officially begin within weeks.

The One Nation group meeting in Parliament on Monday is expected to see Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and ex-Cabinet ministers Damian Green and Nicky Morgan set out their vision for a centre-ground Tory Party.

The group is also viewed as an attempt to prevent a hard Brexiteer from steering the UK out of the EU without a deal.

Ms Rudd said the group stood for "the state having an active role in fighting injustices, in environmental standards and a belief in free enterprise".

"There are no simple answers to complex questions," she said.

"A pragmatic, compassionate centre right has never been more vital."