Labour activists gave Keir Starmer a huge standing ovation for saying remain will not be ruled out as an option in a second Brexit referendum.
The rousing round of applause lasted for 40 seconds following the shadow Brexit secretarys unexpected statement.
Sir Keir began his speech by saying Labour is not trying to frustrate the process of leaving the European Union, but indicated the party will vote against Theresa Mays Brexit plan when its put before the Commons.
The Labour frontbencher said a general election should be called if Mrs May does not win Parliaments approval.
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If no election is called, Sir Keir said Labour will support a second Brexit referendum.
Sir Keir, who said he would vote remain in any future referendum, admitted he was devastated by the 2016 Brexit vote.
He said that if Labour could not secure a general election we must have other options.
That must include campaigning for a public vote, he said.
It is right that Parliament has the first say but, if we need to break the impasse, our options must include campaigning for a public vote and nobody is ruling out Remain as an option.
Sir Keirs comments departed from the pre-released text to the media and came after shadow chancellor John McDonnell indicated that any referendum may be on the terms of Brexit, rather than whether to reverse it.
The possibility of another referendum after 17.4 million voted to leave the EU has led to fears of civil unrest and the rise of far-right politics.
In reaction to the speech, Nigel Farage warned on Twitter: Total Labour betrayal on Brexit is now close at hand.
But Sir Keir said a second public vote could be avoided and the party had a responsibility to save the UK from leaving without a deal.
He said a no-deal Brexit would rupture our trading arrangements and this will cost jobs, I dont doubt that the pound will begin to drop.
We wont have any arrangements for security and counter-terrorism – I worked, when I was director of public prosecutions, on counter-terrorism work across Europe – the idea that we wouldnt have an arrangement in place for that would horrify people, he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
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And frankly this idea that we might have medicines stockpiled for six weeks has spooked people.
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We dont want to face that situation and we have got a duty to do something to stop it and thats why the option of a public vote is important as something that may have to happen when we get to that stage.
Labours position leaves the Prime Minister exposed to a rebellion by Tory backbenchers, with fewer than a dozen able to fracture her fragile control of the Commons in the upcoming vote.
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