SADIQ Khan has dramatically called for another EU referendum because he believes the people must be given the chance to reject Brexit.

The Mayor of London, who is an avowed remainer, argues Britain is facing either a bad deal or “no deal”, which he says will hit jobs and living standards.

Referring to the worst case scenerios, Mr Khan said: “They are both incredibly risky and I don’t believe Theresa May has the mandate to gamble so flagrantly with the British economy and people’s livelihoods.”

The leading Labour politician, who was Writing in the Observer, insisted backing a second referendum was never something he expected to have to do.

But he believed the threat to living standards and jobs was severe and he saw no alternative than to give people a chance to stay in the EU.

He said: “This means a public vote on any Brexit deal obtained by the government, or a vote on a ‘no-deal’ Brexit if one is not secured, alongside the option of staying in the EU.

“People didn’t vote to leave the EU to make themselves poorer, to watch their businesses suffer, to have NHS wards understaffed, to see the police preparing for civil unrest or for our national security to be put at risk if our cooperation with the EU in the fight against terrorism is weakened.”

Mr Khan's call for a second referendum came as Lib Dem former minister Tom Brake appealed to those who campaigned to remain in the EU to "break cover" and publicly back a second referendum on Britain's membership.

Mr Brake used his party conference speech to blast Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg while calling on remainer Tories to take action.

He also told activists how cash earmarked for exit preparations could be used to regenerate towns and cities.

He said: "My vision of a better Britain is one that will be delivered by using the real Brexit dividend, the financial dividend liberated by cancelling Brexit, freeing up cash to boost skills, training, education, infrastructure, housing, productivity.

"If we secure a final say on the deal, and if the country backs remaining in the EU, we must pledge to use every penny of taxpayers' hard earned money, such as the £3 billion earmarked for Brexit, to regenerate the towns, cities and communities in the greatest need.