Calls for a referendum on any future Brexit deal have been rejected by Jeremy Corbyn.
Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and London mayor Sadiq Khan both called for the public to have a vote on whether to accept the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
Ms Dugdale said the people of the UK “should take back control with a final vote on the deal” and Mr Khan said it was “possible” the idea might make it into the party’s manifesto.
But Mr Corbyn dismissed the prospect of going back to the electorate, as divisions over the key issue were again laid bare at the party’s annual conference in Brighton.
And he risked further angering supporters of continued membership by indicating that he believed there would be many “positives” to the divorce from Brussels.
“We are not planning any referendum. Sadiq is obviously thinking through all scenarios and possibilities,” he said.
“He represents a city which overwhelmingly voted for Remain. As you know, the referendum result across the country was a majority to leave.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Brexit is all going to be positive. It is going to be difficult and complicated. But there are positives there.”
The issue of a second referendum was raised at the Scottish Labour leadership hustings at the party conference in Brighton and rejected by both Richard Leonard and Anas Sarwar.
Mr Leonard said he was “not persuaded” another referendum was necessary because he believed Labour could force an early general election when MPs reject the Brexit deal.
He said: “The process we’re involved in will lead to a deal going back to Westminster and I think there’s a possibility of Westminster voting that deal down, which would precipitate another general election.
“I want to see an early general election and I want to see Jeremy Corbyn elected as Prime Minister.
“I am in agreement there is an attempt at a power grab and I will stand foursquare with those opposing that,” he said of the row over which powers would be handed to the Scottish Parliament when they are taken back from Brussels.
“The other potential power grab is big business on working people’s rights.”
Anas Sarwar said he also did not believe another referendum was the best idea.
He said: “I don’t think there’s an appetite for another referendum in Scotland. I think we have election fatigue.
“I think (shadow Brexit secretary) Keir Starmer has got us in a in a good place around the transition period to focus on jobs, trade and workers’ rights.
“If we’re being true to protecting jobs and trade we can’t close the door on retaining membership of the single market and the customs union. We must defend Scotland’s interests and I will do that unashamedly.”
