Ex-South Shields MP David Miliband says Britain has been left 'embarrassed on world stage' over Brexit

Former South Shields MP David Miliband. Picture by PA

Mr Miliband, who served as Foreign Secretary in the last Labour Government, said the UK was viewed from abroad as being at a "low ebb" and "in retreat".

He said Labour should press for the option of continued membership of the EU to remain on the table when Parliament votes on the Brexit deal.

And he criticised Theresa May's approach to triggering Article 50, starting the two-year countdown to Brexit, without knowing the outcome.

In an interview in the December issue of British GQ, on sale on Thursday, Mr Miliband said: "I take no pleasure in Britain's embarrassment.

"Those of us who are outside the country take absolutely no pleasure in the low ebb to which Britain has sunk.

"Brits abroad look at the fact other countries see us in retreat, having lost our way."

He said Labour should argue that Parliament - or even the people, in a second referendum - should be given the choice between the Brexit deal negotiated by Mrs May's Government and continued membership of the EU.

Ministers have said they intend to give Parliament a vote - but that would decide between accepting the terms on offer or leaving the EU without a deal.

Mr Miliband said: "Labour should argue that the British parliament or people must be given a choice between the Brexit deal negotiated and membership of the EU.

"There is no progressive vision for Britain cut off from the continent."

He added: "I was in office when Article 50 came into the Lisbon Treaty and no-one in their right mind thought a country would be crazy enough to pull the pin on the grenade unless they were absolutely sure about how the two-year ticking time bomb was going to go.

"You've got to be deeply worried about the prospects, for the country, of the negotiation, because we stand to lose much more than Europe does."

Mr Miliband was MP for South Shields from 2001 to 2013, when he resigned from Parliament to become chief executive of the International Rescue Committee aid organisation based in New York

He also served as a non-executive vice-chairman for Sunderland AFC from 2011 to 2013, when he resigned after the club appointed controversial manager Paolo Di Canio.

Both South Tyneside and Sunderland voted strongly in favour of Brexit in the EU referendum.