A Labour government would give local communities a say on migration levels, the party's shadow Brexit secretary has pledged as he attempted to clear up confusion over his party's stance on the EU.

Sir Keir Starmer also said that the UK was leaving the EU and that Brexit would mean the end to the free movement of EU workers.

But the party's position faced fresh scrutiny just hours later after a shadow Brexit minister left the door open to a second referendum – and suggested that the UK could end up staying in the EU after all.

Paul Blomfield said the decision to leave could be reconsidered if the EU adopted “significant reforms” in the course of the UK's exit negotiations.

Earlier, Sir Keir had said that Labour "accepted" the outcome of last year's vote.

Freedom of movement "will have to end" when the UK leaves the single market after Brexit, he said.

But he also said that Labour would prioritise protecting the economy over cutting immigration.

Despite its high-profile, there were signs that his speech was being snubbed by the Labour leadership.

A list of election priorities sent to Labour MPs did not include Brexit in the top “lines to take”.

Just last month shadow home secretary Diane Abbott called for free movement of people should be defended as a workers’ right, in the foreword to a book.

Sir Keir also pledged to unilaterally guarantee that EU nationals could stay in the UK after Brexit, leading to claims from critics that he was selling out British ex-pats abroad.

In a trail of the speech overnight he had promised to adopt a 'presumption of devolution' that over powers repatriated from Brussels.

Sir Keir also suggested that the UK could give up the right to do post-Brexit trade deals with the rest of the world to secure a good agreement with the EU.

He said the option of remaining in the EU customs union - which would severely restrict the prospect of independent UK trade deals - should be “on the table”

He added: “We need to recognise that we have 44% of our trade with the EU. That is the number one consideration.”

He also pledged to give MPs a "meaningful" vote on the UK’s Brexit deal, but warned that parliament could not keep rejecting a deal indefinitely.

If Labour pull off a shock victory in June, Mr Starmer also said he would scrap Theresa May’s Great Repeal Bill and instead legislate to protect all EU workplace and environmental protections in UK law.

Overnight former Labour Business Secretary Peter Mandelson had been asked what was Labour’s Brexit strategy on the BBC's Newsnight programme .

He replied: “Search me”.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “Jeremy Corbyn is too weak and floundering to get a good deal in the Brexit negotiations.

“A divided Labour party, propped up by a Liberal Democrat SNP coalition of chaos, can’t even agree amongst themselves on Brexit. Putting this chaotic team in charge of negotiating with the EU would be a dangerous risk to Britain’s future.

“The choice is clear – only a vote for the strong and stable leadership of Theresa May on June 8th will deliver a Brexit deal in Britain’s national interest.”

In response to the speech Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has called on Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson to confirm that the Tories' manifesto will guarantee the right of EU nationals living in the UK to remain after Brexit.

Today Labour will announce a three-point election guarantee for NHS staff, including 'sustainable' pay levels, safe staffing levels and fully funded education.