Jeremy Corbyn to hold cross-party talks to break Brexit deadlock

It follows an interview with Sky News in which he said it would be "appropriate" to bring a fresh motion of no confidence against the government if the prime minister's Brexit deal is rejected by MPs for a third time this week.

Mrs May had been expected to hold the latest "meaningful vote" on her Withdrawal Agreement on Tuesday, but there is growing uncertainty over whether that will happen.

Ministers have warned the vote could be pulled if Tory Brexiteer rebels and the DUP do not make clear they are prepared to support the deal ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday.

Mr Corbyn will meet leaders of the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Plaid Cymru on Monday, as well as chairs of the home affairs and Brexit select committees and proponents of the so-called "common market 2.0" proposal.

In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: "She cannot keep bringing back an unchanged deal. It is ridiculous. She has got to recognise that we've got to do something different.

"I've written to colleagues across parliament and invited them to meet me, Keir Starmer and shadow cabinet colleagues to discuss our credible proposals of a customs union, market access and guaranteeing rights and environmental and consumer protections.

"I look forward to those and more meetings this week so that we can do what the government should have started two years ago - namely reach out, engage and listen to different views and find a consensus on Brexit which helps bring our country back together."

 

 

 

 

In an interview with Sky's Sophy Ridge, Mr Corbyn also confirmed his party was likely to back an amendment put forward by Labour backbenchers Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson if the prime minister does hold a third "meaningful vote".

The amendment would require any Brexit deal agreed by parliament to be put to a confirmatory referendum before coming into effect.

He told the programme: "We went through what they're trying to do, which is make sure people do have a say in the final matter, and that we agree with and support.

"If the amendment is as I've just set out, then we will be supporting it - but we've got to see the wording of it."

Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Thursday for a summit of EU leaders, in which she will formally request a delay to the UK's departure.

If MPs have backed the Withdrawal Agreement by that point, she is expected to ask for a short extension to the end of June to allow for necessary legislation to be passed.

If, however, a meaningful vote has not been passed, it is likely any extension would be far longer.

Parliament would likely need to hold a series of indicative votes to establish if there was a majority for an alternative Brexit approach, and European parliamentary elections would need be held in May.

Throughout the weekend, the government continued talks with the DUP in an effort to provide assurances to the party that will allow them to switch to backing the prime minister's deal.

But despite the DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds describing the talks as "positive" on Friday, there has yet to be a public confirmation of a breakthrough.

A number of Brexiteer critics of the Withdrawal Agreement have now made clear they will reluctantly approve it if it is brought back to the Commons.

Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, said predicted the "trickle" of so-called switchers was likely to "turn into a real flow".

He said: "We are outgunned, we've been slightly outmanoeuvred, the time has come to bank what we've got, move onto higher ground and start the battle again to the next set of negotiations."

Former cabinet minister Esther McVey also called on Brexit supporters in parliament to back the deal "holding our noses", saying the parliamentary votes last week meant a delay or no Brexit had become a real possibility.

But veteran Eurosceptic John Redwood told Sky News he disagreed with Ms McVey's assessment.

"I think it's a strange judgement for her to make... I think it is based on a misunderstanding," said Mr Redwood, who confirmed he would not be backing the deal.

"I don't think we're in danger of no Brexit, unless the government suddenly decides to tear up its manifesto and say it is going to insist on no Brexit and it will need an awful lot of Labour and SNP votes to put that through," he added.

Sky News