The leader of the opposition in the UK has said he is hopeful the new European Commission will be open to fresh talks on the UKs exit from the EU.

Jeremy Corbyn said the “most important thing” for all sides is to get a deal that prevents a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.

Speaking in Dublin last night, the Labour leader signalled a U-turn on his opposition to a second Brexit referendum.

He said the “only way out” of the Brexit crisis is to go back to the British people – either through a general election or a public vote.

UK Labour leader @jeremycorbyn seems to think there could be room for a renegotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement #Brexit pic.twitter.com/OvaRPhrm21

— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) May 29, 2019

Referendum

Mr Corbyn said he will discuss the possibility of negotiating a new customs union with the EU when he meets with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today.

He said Labour is also committed to maintaining an open border in Ireland and protecting “all rights that have been obtained through EU membership.”

“The Labour Party is of the position that we should be quite prepared to put this to a public vote subsequently,” he said.

“The referendum would be on a negotiated deal or alternatives to that – it is not a re-run of 2016.

“It would be on the basis of whatever we have succeeded in negotiating.

“The British Government is imploding at the present time and we are very keen to ensure that there is a process that prevents no deal exit from the EU because I believe that would be incredibly damaging to industry all across Britain and obviously to trade with Ireland as well.”

.@jeremycorbyn says a second referendum would be on a negotiated deal, with protection of rights through a customs union with the EU. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/ztpJQqQ3ph

— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) May 29, 2019

Brexit talks

Asked whether the EU would be open to fresh talks on the UKs exit he said: “We have just had the EU election; there will be obviously a new commission and we will be discussing this with the Taoiseach.”

“Indeed, I have discussed this before with officials, including Michel Barnier, in the EU and we think that the important thing is to get an agreement with the EU that prevents a no deal exit.

“I don’t want Britain to become some kind of tax haven on the shores of Europe,” he said.

“I want us to have a close relationship with Europe in the future. After all, jobs on both sides of the Channel and of course in Ireland as well depend on that trading relationship.

Public vote

Prior to last week's European Elections, Labour's manifesto stated the party would only back the "option" of a public vote if it failed to get a Brexit deal in line with its own "alternative plan" – or a general election.

After the results emerged, shadow chancellor John McDonnell claimed the party could not "hide" from its disappointing performance.

He admitted securing a general election would be difficult, in which case he would support "going back to the people in another referendum."

Mr Corbyn is also due to meet with the President Michael D Higgins today.