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Brexit: Cross-party talks resume after Easter recess Brexit: Calls for progress on cross-party deal talks
(about 2 hours later)
Talks between the government and Labour on Brexit have resumed as MPs return to Westminster following the Easter break. The government says "progress needs to be made urgently" on Brexit talks with Labour - but that arranging time with the opposition has been "difficult".
Cabinet ministers are meeting senior opposition figures in an attempt to solve the impasse by finding a deal that could win the support of MPs. Senior figures from both sides have been trying to break the deadlock by agreeing a Brexit deal MPs can support.
But some Tory MPs are angry the talks with Labour are even taking place. No 10 said talks had "been difficult in some areas", including "timetabling".
Leading backbencher Nigel Evans called on Theresa May to step down as prime minister "as soon as possible". But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government "really needs to move on" and change its withdrawal agreement to solve the impasse.
Cross-party meetings have been going on for a number of weeks after Mrs May's EU withdrawal deal was rejected for a third time by MPs. He said: "We cannot go on hearing this tired old mantra that the Brexit agreement has to be adhered to."
Arriving for the talks at the Cabinet Office, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said "fundamental issues" remained between Labour and ministers on a number of key issues. The deal Theresa May negotiated with the EU has been rejected twice by Parliament, with the withdrawal agreement - the terms on how the UK leaves the bloc, rather than its future relationship with it - defeated a further time.
"We've been exchanging correspondence with the government but now we want to know what is their position on the issues that remain between us," he said. Weeks of talks resumed between the two parties in Westminster on Tuesday afternoon following the Easter break.
Sir Keir was accompanied by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman. Mrs May's de facto deputy David Lidington was expected to lead for the government.
Theresa May's de facto deputy David Lidington is expected to lead the talks for the government. Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman took part on behalf of Labour.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith says most people at Westminster seem to take the view that the prime minister is clutching at straws by pinning her hopes on reaching an agreement with Jeremy Corbyn. Ahead of the meeting, Sir Keir said "fundamental issues" remained between his party and ministers on a number of key issues.
He says Labour's position has not changed and Mrs May will have take a political decision to accept a customs union with the EU if she is to get Mr Corbyn to sign off her plans. Some Tory MPs are angry the discussions with Labour are even taking place.
If she does that, our correspondent added, it would almost certainly provoke a cabinet walkout and open warfare on the backbenches. Leading backbencher Nigel Evans called on Theresa May to step down as prime minister "as soon as possible", adding that the PM "had been reaching out to the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn, when she should have been reaching out to the people".
'Praise not blame' Timing seems to be a key issue.
Later on Tuesday, senior members of the influential 1922 committee of Tory MPs will meet. The word is that Labour has engaged seriously in the talks, but on timing, they feel it will take longer than the next few weeks to reach some kind of agreement.
The group's joint executive secretary and MP for Ribble Valley Mr Evans told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the calls for the prime minister to quit had become "a clamour". The PM, though, is still keen to avoid the UK taking part in the European Parliamentary elections.
The only way that could be done is if the deal passes Parliament before 22 May.
And nothing in the talks so far suggests that this tighter timeframe is definitely achievable.
Senior members of the influential 1922 committee of Tory MPs are meeting now in Parliament.
Under current party rules, MPs cannot call another no-confidence vote in the prime minister until December - but the 1922 are expected to discuss whether steps should be taken to try to change that.
The group's joint executive secretary Mr Evans told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the calls for the prime minister to quit had become "a clamour".
"The only way we're going to break this impasse properly is if we have fresh leadership of the Conservative Party," he said."The only way we're going to break this impasse properly is if we have fresh leadership of the Conservative Party," he said.
He said Mrs May "had been reaching out to the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn, when she should have been reaching out to the people".
But Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said Theresa May was doing a "good job" and deserved "praise not blame".But Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said Theresa May was doing a "good job" and deserved "praise not blame".
"The idea somehow that some new fresh leader with extraordinary charm and nimble feet would be able to suddenly get the deal across the line is mistaken," he told the BBC. He added: "It's nothing to do with the individual, it's that people disagree deeply about Brexit."
"It's nothing to do with the individual, it's that people disagree deeply about Brexit." The comments came after it emerged that Mrs May faces a no-confidence challenge from Tory campaigners.
Mr Evans's comments came after it emerged that Mrs May faces a no-confidence challenge from Tory campaigners.
More than 70 local association chiefs have called for an extraordinary general meeting to discuss her leadership and a non-binding vote is to be held at the National Conservative Convention EGM in May.More than 70 local association chiefs have called for an extraordinary general meeting to discuss her leadership and a non-binding vote is to be held at the National Conservative Convention EGM in May.
If the grass-roots Tory vote showed a lack of confidence - it could put greater pressure on the 1922 Committee to find some way of forcibly removing the PM from office.If the grass-roots Tory vote showed a lack of confidence - it could put greater pressure on the 1922 Committee to find some way of forcibly removing the PM from office.
That pressure could increase further if the Tories poll badly in European elections on 23 May. That pressure could increase further if the Tories poll badly in local and European elections on 2 and 23 May respectively.
Under current party rules, MPs cannot call another no-confidence vote until December 2019 - but the 1922 are expected to discuss whether steps should be taken to try to change them at their meeting on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Change UK has launched its European election campaign in Bristol, while Nigel Farage's Brexit Party has unveiled more of its candidates in London.
Change UK is made up of 11 former Labour and Tory MPs who quit their parties in February.
The UK has been given an extension to the Brexit process until 31 October.The UK has been given an extension to the Brexit process until 31 October.
This means the UK is likely to hold European Parliament elections on 23 May. Change UK has launched its European election campaign in Bristol, while Nigel Farage's Brexit Party has unveiled more of its candidates in London.