Humbled Labour hint they're ready to do Brexit deal after drubbing at local elections

FLIP-FLOPPING Labour bosses today vowed to listen to furious voters and help get Brexit sorted at last.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell hinted he would help Theresa May get a deal over the line next week after seeing his party punished at the polls.

But any soft Brexit compromise will enrage pro-Leave MPs because it would leave Britain in the customs union.

Labour is on course to LOSE council seats after yesterday's local elections – despite the shambolic state of the Tories.

Speaking in Trafford, Jeremy Corbyn said: "I wanted us to do better, of course.

"We've lost some seats across the country, of course I acknowledge that – we've also had swings to Labour in a number of places and also gained seats in several places."

MPs called on the party to stop sitting on the fence over Brexit and deliver on the referendum result.

This morning Mr McDonnell said: "We’ll see what final results of local elections look like by end of day as they are pretty mixed geographically up to now but so far message from local elections – 'Brexit – sort it.' Message received."

He has been leading cross-party Brexit talks with the Conservatives over the past few weeks.

The Shadow Chancellor's message will be interpreted as a heavy hint that he will strike a deal with Theresa May's team in the coming days.

But Mr McDonnell's allies played down the suggestion he has changed his position on Brexit.

Frustrated Labour MPs blamed the party's poor performance on its muddled message – which sees Jeremy Corbyn backing a second referendum, but only if he can't agree a compromise with Mrs May.

Ruth Smeeth, whose Stoke constituency saw Labour flop, blasted: "The leadership needs to look at these results very carefully. This is a strong Leave area and my constituents just don’t trust us to deliver.

"We need clear messaging from the top. Messing around just isn't working. I want to deliver Brexit for my constituents."

South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck added: "These results should be a catalyst for Parliament to deliver on the mandate given in 2016 and do so swiftly."

Today party chairman Ian Lavery admitted: "The two main parties need to get on and get Brexit sorted."

But Labour Remainers called on the party to back a second referendum instead to attract anti-Brexit voters.

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Any compromise deal would probably see the UK stay in the customs union after Brexit.

Tory MPs warned Mrs May she would split the party by embracing a softer outcome.

Crispin Blunt said: "She would find there were very few Conservatives behind her if she were to do that deal."

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