Labour leadership: Party figures in Shropshire back Owen Smith's call to keep Britain in EU

Two months after Britain voted to leave the EU, Mr Smith said he would continue to fight for Britain to remain in the European Union, despite the result of the June referendum.

Mr Smith, who is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the party, said he would "fight tooth and nail to keep Britain in the EU."

He said he would continue to oppose any moves to trigger Article 50 – the mechanism that would allow Britain to leave the EU – until Theresa May promised a second referendum or general election on the terms of the final Brexit deal.

He also said that, if elected leader, he would fight the next General Election on the basis of staying in the EU.

"I would be putting it to the British people that Labour, under my leadership, still believes we should be within the EU, and regrets the decision that was taken," Mr Smith said.

"It was a very narrow decision, barely 50 per cent of people voted to leave, and I think now we know we are going into recession, things are going to be tougher for us and the sort of things we were promised aren't going to be delivered by the Tories, I think it would be right for Labour to argue in favour of staying in."

Chairman of Telford Constituency Labour Party, Councillor Kevin Guy, said he thought Mr Smith's proposal was a shrewd move, adding that most Labour members in Telford were in favour of remaining within the EU.

"I don't think he is saying we should ignore the vote, he is saying we should give the people a choice about any deal that is done on the terms of leaving the EU," said Councillor Guy.

"I know that the vast majority of people in Telford voted to leave, but it's vital people get a choice of whatever policies are put forward.

"There were a lot of lies told by both sides, and I think it is very wise that we explain exactly what deal is being offered and give people a chance to vote.

"I think many people on the 'leave' side would support that. They might not get what they wanted in the final deal, they might not get what they wanted on immigration."

Councillor Vernon Bushell, chairman of the Labour Party's north Shrewsbury branch, said he was a strong supporter of Britain remaining in the EU, but did not believe there was any public appetite for another referendum.

Regarding Mr Smith's pledge to remain in the EU if he became prime minister, Councillor Bushell said: "I would support him on that, but I'm not sure he would get enough support.

"I strongly supported us staying in the European Union, but the people voted to come out. It was a close result, and I'm sorry people voted for coming out, but we are where we are."

Mr Smith said that while Prime Minister Theresa May had said "Brexit means Brexit", she had not made it clear what this would look like.

"The British people were lied to by the Leave campaign, they deserve to have a say on whatever exit deal the Tories strike with the EU.

"It could involve trashing workers' rights and environmental protections, opening our NHS up to foreign competition, making it harder for us to trade with our neighbours and damaging our economy.

"I'm a passionate pro-European and I will fight tooth and nail to keep us in the EU."

However the Labour Leave group, which had supported Brexit in the referendum campaign, said Mr Smith's proposal would be a disaster for the party.

Brendan Chilton, Labour Leave general secretary, said: "Blocking Brexit would be electoral suicide for the Labour Party.

"The Labour heartlands voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the European Union. In many of those seats Ukip are now second to Labour, and any attempt to block Brexit or rerun the referendum by the party would be extremely irresponsible.

"It would surely lead to more Labour voters decamping to Ukip, and would certainly stop the Labour Party from winning a General Election in the foreseeable future."