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Brexit: PM's negotiator to explore changes to future EU relations Brexit: PM's negotiator to explore changes to future EU relations
(30 minutes later)
The prime minister's chief Brexit negotiator, Olly Robbins, is travelling to Brussels to discuss changes to the political declaration on the UK's future relationship with the EU. Theresa May's Brexit negotiator is on his way to Brussels to explore the scope for changes to the agreement on the UK's future relations with the EU.
The move is intended to meet a key Labour demand in cross-party talks to break the deadlock. Olly Robbins is looking to see whether a key demand being made by Labour in cross-party talks can be satisfied.
Theresa May is facing calls from senior Conservative MPs not to agree a compromise with Jeremy Corbyn. But as cabinet discusses the state of the talks, Theresa May is facing calls from senior Conservative MPs not to agree a compromise with Jeremy Corbyn.
Ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the process was a "blind alley".Ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the process was a "blind alley".
The Labour leader is also facing demands from MPs to abandon the talks, which have been going on for more than a month. The Labour leader is also facing demands from his MPs to abandon the talks, which have been going on for more than a month with little apparent progress.
With the two parties seeking to find a compromise over Brexit, it has been a key demand of Labour negotiators that any deal they strike should be reflected in changes to the political declaration. Attempts to find a cross-party compromise began after Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected three times by MPs.
This declaration was published alongside Mrs May's withdrawal agreement and sets out the parameters for the future relationship between the UK and the EU, but is not legally binding. The inability to agree on a way forward led the UK to miss its 29 March deadline for leaving the EU - the current date for departure is 31 October.
In Brussels, Mr Robbins will explore how quickly changes could be made to the political declaration if the government and Labour can come to an agreement. Labour negotiators want any deal they strike with minister to be reflected in changes to the political declaration made with Brussels.
But as the cabinet and shadow cabinet take stock of the progress so far in the cross-party talks, pressure is mounting on both sides for negotiations to be abandoned. This 27-page document was published alongside Mrs May's withdrawal agreement and sets out the parameters for the future relationship between the UK and the EU, but is not legally binding.
In Brussels, Mr Robbins will explore how quickly changes could be made to the declaration if the government and Labour can come to an agreement.
The BBC's Norman Smith says he understands he will have face-to-face meetings with EU officials on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in Westminster, the cabinet is taking stock of progress so far in the talks, while Labour's shadow cabinet will meet later to discuss the state of play.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, and 13 former cabinet ministers have written to Mrs May to warn her not to agree a compromise with Labour that includes a customs union with the EU.Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, and 13 former cabinet ministers have written to Mrs May to warn her not to agree a compromise with Labour that includes a customs union with the EU.
Inside a customs union there would be no internal tariffs (taxes) on goods transported between the UK and other EU nations - something that is seen as advantageous for business.
But it would mean the UK cannot negotiate its own trade deals on goods with other countries around the world, and for some, that fails to satisfy the desire for a clean break with Brussels after Brexit.
Among the former cabinet ministers are Brexiteers Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and sacked defence secretary Gavin Williamson, as well as Maria Miller and Sir Michael Fallon, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum.Among the former cabinet ministers are Brexiteers Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and sacked defence secretary Gavin Williamson, as well as Maria Miller and Sir Michael Fallon, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum.
According to the Times, the letter said that such a deal would lose the support of Conservatives who backed the prime minister in March, and would be unlikely to gain enough Labour votes to pass. According to the Times, the letter said such a compromise would lose the support of Conservatives who previously backed the prime minister's deal, and would be unlikely to gain enough Labour votes to pass.
It said: "More fundamentally, you would have lost the loyal middle of the Conservative Party, split our party and with likely nothing positive to show for it. No leader can [bind] his or her successor, so the deal would likely be at best temporary, at worst illusory."It said: "More fundamentally, you would have lost the loyal middle of the Conservative Party, split our party and with likely nothing positive to show for it. No leader can [bind] his or her successor, so the deal would likely be at best temporary, at worst illusory."
'Stepping stone''Stepping stone'
Sir Michael said the government's focus should be on addressing Conservative and Democratic Unionist Party concerns over the Northern Irish border and finding alternative arrangements to the backstop, not doing a deal with Labour.Sir Michael said the government's focus should be on addressing Conservative and Democratic Unionist Party concerns over the Northern Irish border and finding alternative arrangements to the backstop, not doing a deal with Labour.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today that negotiations over any kind of customs union with the EU were a "blind alley". He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "The talks are clearly not going anywhere.
"The talks are clearly not going anywhere," he said.
"If they are going to include permanent membership of a customs union then frankly we would be better off staying in the EU then we would have a voice in the trade arrangements that are being negotiated."If they are going to include permanent membership of a customs union then frankly we would be better off staying in the EU then we would have a voice in the trade arrangements that are being negotiated.
"We can't say we are leaving the EU then half stay in it.""We can't say we are leaving the EU then half stay in it."
A Downing Street source told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg that a compromise was being sought with Labour on customs "as an interim position or a stepping stone".A Downing Street source told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg that a compromise was being sought with Labour on customs "as an interim position or a stepping stone".
"We will not sign up to a permanent customs union," the source said."We will not sign up to a permanent customs union," the source said.
"Both sides agree that no Parliament can bind a future government and most EU trade deals have a six to 12-month exit clause.""Both sides agree that no Parliament can bind a future government and most EU trade deals have a six to 12-month exit clause."
At a meeting of Labour MPs on Monday night, Jeremy Corbyn faced repeated demands to abandon the talks with the prime minister. MPs fear that they are costing Labour support ahead of the European elections on 23 May.At a meeting of Labour MPs on Monday night, Jeremy Corbyn faced repeated demands to abandon the talks with the prime minister. MPs fear that they are costing Labour support ahead of the European elections on 23 May.
But speaking after Monday's discussions with the government, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said they were "constructive as always". But speaking after Monday's discussions with the government, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said they had been "constructive as always".
Ex-Tory MP Anna Soubry accused the opposition of being "all over the place". She told BBC Breakfast she feared Labour would "bail out this Conservative government to deliver Brexit". Ex-Tory MP Anna Soubry accused the opposition of being "all over the place", telling BBC Breakfast she feared Labour would "bail out this Conservative government to deliver Brexit".
It comes after shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told the Guardian on Sunday that a cross-party Brexit deal would not get through Parliament unless it was subject to a fresh public vote.
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