Jeremy Corbyn has shifted his position on Brexit by saying Labour is now “ready to support a public vote on any deal” on Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.

The move came in the wake of the party’s “disastrous” showing in the Euro-poll when Labour lost 10 of its 20 MEPs and managed only 14 per cent of the vote to place it third behind Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party and the Liberal Democrats.

This was blamed on Labour’s so-called “constructive ambiguity” approach; an equivocal message aimed at keeping support among both Leave and Remain voters.

Following the Euro-poll result, Mr Corbyn said he would consult MPs, shadow ministers, party members and affiliates with a view to “bring the issue back to conference in September”.

However, in a letter to MPs last night, he again explained Labour’s preference would be for a general election but also pointed out that any Brexit deal had to be “put to a public vote”.

Labour sources said this was a clear shift from his previous position; that a second poll was being kept only as an option on the table to stop a damaging Tory Brexit.

“It is clear that the deadlock in Parliament can now only be broken by the issue going back to the people through a general election or a public vote. We are ready to support a public vote on any deal,” declared Mr Corbyn.

While his statement moves the party closer to backing a People’s Vote, it will not go far enough for some of his senior colleagues, who want their leader to back outright a second referendum being held without delay and for the party to campaign for Remain in it.

In the aftermath of the vote, senior colleague after senior colleague lined up to urge the Labour leader to change direction on Brexit.

Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, tore into her party's position live on air, saying: “We sent people out to campaign on that and, unfortunately, we just weren't clear enough.”

She added: "I fear we will have no deal and we must be clear it will be a disaster for the country so we must have a second referendum."

Tom Watson, the deputy leader, who has backed a second vote, said: “Following the disastrous EU election results, Labour urgently needs to re-think its Brexit position and realign with members and voters."

His frontbench colleague Sir Keir Starmer said the party needed to reflect hard and listen to Labour members, supporters and voters.

"The only way to break the Brexit impasse is to go back to the public with a choice between a credible Leave option and Remain," he insisted.

The calls for a change of tack also came from Mr Corbyn’s closest friends in the Shadow Cabinet.

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, hardened his position, tweeting: “Of course, I want a general election. But I realise how difficult this is to secure. I will do anything I can to block no-deal Brexit. So yes if, as likely GE not possible, then I support going back to the people in another referendum."

Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, also too to social media, saying: "We have to take the time to analyse the EU vote. But, when we come in third after the Brexit party, that is a clue something is wrong with our strategy. We need to listen to our members and take a clearer line on a public vote."

But Len McCluskey, the leader of the Unite union and a close ally of Mr Corbyn, urged the party to “hold our nerve” and not abandon the “honourable objective” of uniting the nation on Brexit.

In what appeared a thinly-veiled dig at Mr Watson, the trade union chief warned some were now rushing to advance other agendas but were doing so to undermine the party leader.

"They will be seen for what they are and never forgiven by the members," he added.