THE prospect that Labour will adopt a neutral position in a second referendum on Brexit has risen further after Diane Abbott, another key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, came out strongly for supporting Britain remaining in the EU.

If it wins power, the Opposition has committed to holding another referendum with “credible options,” including Remain on the ballot paper.

As the party’s policy continues to evolve, it seems a distinct possibility that the Labour leader, his Shadow Cabinet colleagues and the wider party will agree to emulate the position adopted by Harold Wilson in the 1975 European referendum and David Cameron in the 2016 poll ie allowing senior colleagues to campaign on either side of the argument on continued membership of the EU.

On Monday, John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, underlined how Labour was a democratic party and would determine its final position in the manifesto process ahead of what he expected to be an October/November general election.

But, underlining how he believed there had to be two options on a referendum ballot paper – a Labour government’s Brexit offer and staying in the EU – Mr McDonnell declared: “I will campaign for Remain,” a position he would take irrespective of what deal Labour came up with.

Ms Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, adopted the same position.

She told the BBC’s Today programme: “Of course, the party is committed to a referendum now and Jeremy has made that clear and if there is a referendum and if Remain is on the ballot paper - there’s every expectation it will be - like John McDonnell, personally, I will be campaigning for Remain.”

Asked if she would, therefore, campaign against a Labour Brexit deal, she replied: “I will be campaigning for Remain. It is the best option for the country and for my constituents.”

When it was suggested Mr Corbyn personally had not yet reached the same position she and Mr McDonnell had reached and she was asked if Shadow Cabinet opinion was shifting towards Remain, the London MP replied: “We are a democratic party and in the end we will come to a democratic decision.”

She explained: “What Jeremy has sought to do all along is to keep both wings of the party together and he has successfully done that so far. But I have to say as someone, who represents a Remain constituency, and John McDonnell, who represents a Leave constituency, in the event of a referendum with Remain on the ballot paper, we will campaign for Remain.”

Earlier this week, Mr Corbyn conspicuously refused to rule out the possibility of the party staying neutral in a fresh referendum.

He said: "If it is no-deal versus Remain, then, obviously, John McDonnell and others have made it very clear we would support Remain; if there is the opportunity for some other option to be put, then that will be put.” Some other option being, presumably, a Labour Brexit deal.

Ms Abbott admitted her party leader could not stay neutral on such a fundamental issue as Brexit but would “do what he has always done is to do the best for the country and the Labour movement”.

She added that the Shadow Cabinet and the party would have to come up with an agreed position and that “Jeremy will follow what the party says”.

This remark is likely to pave the way for a major push at the Labour conference next month to get the party to officially adopt a full Remain stance in a forthcoming election.

However, in contrast to those arguing for Labour to shift to this position - who also include frontbenchers Tom Watson, Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry as well as the Scottish Labour Party - there is a significant number of senior figures, who believe respecting the 2016 decision means the Opposition must seek to see through Brexit.

These are thought to include: Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, Labour’s biggest donor; Seumas Milne, Mr Corbyn’s Press Secretary and close adviser; Ian Lavery, the party Chairman, and Angela Rayner, the Shadow Education Secretary.

Much now appears to rest on two things. Firstly, can MPs find a way to stop a no-deal outcome? This could mean a repeat of creating a law to force Mr Johnson to seek a further Brexit extension from Brussels or bringing down the Tory Government through a no-confidence vote. Secondly, will Brussels blink?

If there is a snap election, any equivocation from Labour on what position it would adopt in a subsequent referendum on Brexit could mean disgruntled Labour Remainers flocking to the Liberal Democrats or the SNP and disgruntled Labour Leavers swinging behind the Conservatives or Nigel Farage's Brexit Party.