London Mayor Sadiq Khan today launched a drive to reverse Brexit without a referendum.

He told an Italian newspaper that Labour should commit to rejoining the European Union in its next election manifesto which, in the improbable event of a Labour victory, would be mandate enough.

However in apparent contradiction Mr Khan also advocated rejoining the EU single market and customs union within the current parliament, despite these moves being explicitly ruled out in Labour’s 2024 manifesto.

Mr Khan told La Repubblica: “I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done to not just London, but Londoners, the damage economically, socially and culturally.

“And I’m quite clear in terms of what needs to happen, which is I do think we should join the European Union.”

He advocated a five-step process, beginning with a reset in relations and closer economic alignment, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves is already publicly pursuing.

Steps three and four would be rejoining the customs union and the single market. “And then we should, as a Labour Party, fight the next general election with a clear manifesto commitment, a vote for Labour means we would rejoin the European Union,” Mr Khan said.

The government is unlikely to follow all of Mr Khan’s five steps, but his remarks highlight the growing drive within Labour to reverse Brexit as well as a desire to head off the Green threat over the issue in the upcoming London elections.