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Brexit: Downing Street 'ready to meet Labour this weekend' Brexit: Hammond 'optimistic' over Brexit talks with Labour
(about 4 hours later)
Downing Street has insisted it is prepared to pursue alterations to its Brexit deal and is ready to hold further talks with Labour this weekend. Talks between the government and Labour over the Brexit deal are continuing, Chancellor Philip Hammond has said, and he is "optimistic" that "some form of agreement" can be reached.
Labour wants fundamental changes to the deal's political declaration, which outlines future UK-EU relations. Speaking before a meeting of EU finance ministers in Romania, Mr Hammond said there were "no red lines".
But three days of talks ended without agreement on Friday, with Labour's Sir Keir Starmer saying ministers were not "countenancing any change" to the text. He added there was an "open mind".
A Downing Street spokesman said: "We have made serious proposals." Labour's Diane Abbott says the government has made "no movement" in the talks on the political declaration, which outlines future UK-EU relations.
The government was "prepared to pursue changes to the political declaration in order to deliver a deal that is acceptable to both sides", he added. The talks, which began on Wednesday, continued on Friday night, Mr Hammond said.
The political declaration sets out ambitions for the future relationship between the UK and EU after Brexit - including on trade, regulations, security and fishing rights - but does not legally commit either party. "We are expecting to exchange some more text with the Labour Party today, so this is an ongoing process," he added.
Meetings have been taking place between Tory and Labour politicians to find a proposal to put to MPs which it is hoped can break the Brexit deadlock in the Commons before an emergency EU summit next week. The meetings between have been taking place to find a proposal to put to MPs which it is hoped can break the Brexit deadlock in the Commons before an emergency EU summit next week.
However, Sir Keir said the government's approach had been "disappointing" and that it had refused to consider changes to the "actual wording" of the political declaration. Labour has said it wants fundamental changes to the political declaration, which sets out ambitions for the future relationship between the UK and EU after Brexit - including on trade, regulations, security and fishing rights - but does not legally commit either party.
"We want the talks to continue and we've written in those terms to the government, but we do need change if we're going to compromise," the shadow Brexit secretary added. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Labour had engaged in the talks "in good faith" and shadow Brexit minister Sir Keir Starmer had written to the government to say he wants them to continue.
Prisons minister Rory Stewart told BBC Radio 4's PM programme there were "tensions" but insisted that both sides were very close and that there was "quite a lot of life" left in the talks. However, she said there was concern the government did not want to alter the political declaration.
On Friday, Sir Keir said ministers were not "countenancing any change" to the "actual wording".
"We do need change if we're going to compromise," he said.
Mr Hammond told reporters in Bucharest: ""We should complete the process in Parliament... but we should be open to listen to suggestions that others have made.
"Some people in the Labour Party are making other suggestions to us. Of course, we have to be prepared to discuss them... in a constructive fashion."
Earlier, a Downing Street spokesman had said "serious proposals" were made and it was "prepared to pursue changes to the political declaration in order to deliver a deal that is acceptable to both sides".
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said: "The sense is that the government has only offered clarifications on what might be possible from the existing documents, rather than adjusting any of their actual proposals in the two documents."BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said: "The sense is that the government has only offered clarifications on what might be possible from the existing documents, rather than adjusting any of their actual proposals in the two documents."
She added that both sides agreed the talks are not yet over, but there were no firm commitments for when further discussions might take place.She added that both sides agreed the talks are not yet over, but there were no firm commitments for when further discussions might take place.
Extension requestExtension request
The UK is due to leave the EU on 12 April and, as yet, no withdrawal deal has been approved by the House of Commons.The UK is due to leave the EU on 12 April and, as yet, no withdrawal deal has been approved by the House of Commons.
Many MPs believe leaving without a formal deal would create problems for businesses and cause difficulties at ports.Many MPs believe leaving without a formal deal would create problems for businesses and cause difficulties at ports.
Prime Minister Theresa May has written to European Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to the Brexit process until 30 June.Prime Minister Theresa May has written to European Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to the Brexit process until 30 June.
A senior EU source told BBC Europe editor Katya Adler that Mr Tusk would propose a 12-month "flexible" extension, with the option of the UK leaving sooner once Parliament had ratified a deal.A senior EU source told BBC Europe editor Katya Adler that Mr Tusk would propose a 12-month "flexible" extension, with the option of the UK leaving sooner once Parliament had ratified a deal.
Any extension would have to be unanimously approved by EU leaders.Any extension would have to be unanimously approved by EU leaders.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a longer delay to Brexit "might make more sense" than the UK seeking "an extension every couple of weeks or every couple of months, because that just adds to the uncertainty for citizens, for businesses and for farmers".Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a longer delay to Brexit "might make more sense" than the UK seeking "an extension every couple of weeks or every couple of months, because that just adds to the uncertainty for citizens, for businesses and for farmers".
However, French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin said such a delay would require the UK to put forward a proposal with "clear and credible political backing".However, French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin said such a delay would require the UK to put forward a proposal with "clear and credible political backing".
"In the absence of such a plan, we would have to acknowledge that the UK chose to leave the EU in a disorderly manner," she added."In the absence of such a plan, we would have to acknowledge that the UK chose to leave the EU in a disorderly manner," she added.
Mrs May says that if the Commons agrees a deal in time, the UK should be able to leave before European parliamentary elections are held on 23 May.Mrs May says that if the Commons agrees a deal in time, the UK should be able to leave before European parliamentary elections are held on 23 May.
But the UK would prepare to field candidates in case MPs failed to back a deal, she said.But the UK would prepare to field candidates in case MPs failed to back a deal, she said.
The prospect has angered many Conservatives, with prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg arguing: "If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible."The prospect has angered many Conservatives, with prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg arguing: "If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible."