Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will be in Kent today to launch his party's campaign for the European election.

In what will be his first visit to Medway as leader, he will make a keynote speech to party activists and members after mixed fortunes in the council elections and continuing uncertainty over Brexit. He will be at the universities of Medway's Chatham campus.

Labour has been in talks with the Conservatives over a compromise deal, but there is speculation those talks have reached an impasse.

WATCH: Jeremy Corbyn to launch EU Labour manifesto

The Labour leader is expected to set out the party’s position on the circumstances in which it would back a second vote. He will say: “No one expected us to be holding these European elections, but the government’s complete failure on Brexit means they are going ahead. While the government’s incompetence and division on Brexit has created this deadlock, the injustices in our society are deepening."

He will reaffirm the party's pledge to offer voters a chance to have a say on a deal, saying: “But we can never accept the government’s bad deal or a disastrous no deal. So if we can’t get a sensible deal, along the lines of our alternative plan, or a general election, Labour backs the option of a public vote."

The party made modest gains in last week’s election, winning Gravesham from the Conservatives and increasing its numbers in Medway.

It also did well in Thanet, where it won the greatest number of councillors of any authority but not enough to push it over the winning line.

There has been some criticism that confusion over the party’s position cost the party at the council election. MP Jess Philips said voters were unclear and that “our position on Brexit has failed”.

Confirmation that the UK will take part in the election came earlier this week when the government admitted talks with Labour about how to leave the EU meant it was unlikely to reach an agreement before polling day on May 25.

David Lidington, the de facto deputy Prime Minister, has said a Brexit deal was unlikely to be completed in time before polling day on May 25.

He said "regrettably" it was "not going to be possible to finish that process" before the date the UK legally has to take part.

The election will see a crowded field with the new Change UK party, made up of former Labour and Conservative MPs and Nigel Farage’s Brexit party vying for votes alongside the main parties.

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