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| May and Corbyn clash over breakdown in Brexit talks | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Theresa May has blamed Labour’s divisions over a second referendum for the collapse of cross-party Brexit talks, after Jeremy Corbyn wrote to her to say he had no confidence in her ability to deliver on any agreement. | |
| Speaking in Bristol at a campaign event for next week’s European elections, the prime minister said the negotiations had been constructive and had “made progress”. | Speaking in Bristol at a campaign event for next week’s European elections, the prime minister said the negotiations had been constructive and had “made progress”. |
| But she added: “In particular, we haven’t been able to overcome the fact that there isn’t a common position in Labour about whether they want to deliver Brexit or have a second referendum and try to reverse it.” | But she added: “In particular, we haven’t been able to overcome the fact that there isn’t a common position in Labour about whether they want to deliver Brexit or have a second referendum and try to reverse it.” |
| In his letter to the prime minister, released on Friday, the Labour leader said the talks, designed to find a compromise Brexit plan, had been undermined by both a lack of common ground and concerns about whether a successor to May would stick to any deal. | In his letter to the prime minister, released on Friday, the Labour leader said the talks, designed to find a compromise Brexit plan, had been undermined by both a lack of common ground and concerns about whether a successor to May would stick to any deal. |
| May’s spokesman said the view was mutual: “It was clear to the government last night that the talks were not going to reach a successful conclusion.” | May’s spokesman said the view was mutual: “It was clear to the government last night that the talks were not going to reach a successful conclusion.” |
| Corbyn wrote that the talks had taken place in good faith and had been constructive, but added: “However, it has become clear that, while there are some areas where compromise has been possible, we have been unable to bridge important policy gaps between us. | Corbyn wrote that the talks had taken place in good faith and had been constructive, but added: “However, it has become clear that, while there are some areas where compromise has been possible, we have been unable to bridge important policy gaps between us. |
| “Even more crucially, the increasing weakness and instability of your government means there cannot be confidence in securing whatever might be agreed between us.” | “Even more crucially, the increasing weakness and instability of your government means there cannot be confidence in securing whatever might be agreed between us.” |
| However, a Downing Street source echoed May’s claim that it was Labour’s internal conflict over a referendum that ultimately made agreement impossible – and pointed to the stance of Keir Starmer. | However, a Downing Street source echoed May’s claim that it was Labour’s internal conflict over a referendum that ultimately made agreement impossible – and pointed to the stance of Keir Starmer. |
| “It is clear that the shadow Brexit secretary has fairly strident views on the issue, and he led the Labour team in the negotiations,” the source said. | “It is clear that the shadow Brexit secretary has fairly strident views on the issue, and he led the Labour team in the negotiations,” the source said. |
| Starmer told the Guardian earlier this week that he believed it would be impossible for any deal to pass without a “confirmatory” referendum attached. | Starmer told the Guardian earlier this week that he believed it would be impossible for any deal to pass without a “confirmatory” referendum attached. |
| “If the point of the exercise is to get a sustainable majority, over several weeks or months of delivering on the implementation, you can’t leave a confirmatory vote out of the package,” he said. | “If the point of the exercise is to get a sustainable majority, over several weeks or months of delivering on the implementation, you can’t leave a confirmatory vote out of the package,” he said. |
| The government intends to press ahead with holding a vote on the withdrawal agreement bill in the week beginning 3 June – but sources stressed it would include “new features that reflect some of the discussions”, in the hope of winning over Labour MPs. | The government intends to press ahead with holding a vote on the withdrawal agreement bill in the week beginning 3 June – but sources stressed it would include “new features that reflect some of the discussions”, in the hope of winning over Labour MPs. |
| May also plans to resume talks with her confidence and supply partners, the Democratic Unionist party, about how they could be reassured that accepting the deal would not undermine the integrity of the UK. | May also plans to resume talks with her confidence and supply partners, the Democratic Unionist party, about how they could be reassured that accepting the deal would not undermine the integrity of the UK. |
| Government sources also pointed to progress on considering “alternative arrangements” for the Northern Irish border – one of the central concerns of Brexiters who have held out against the deal. | Government sources also pointed to progress on considering “alternative arrangements” for the Northern Irish border – one of the central concerns of Brexiters who have held out against the deal. |
| Corbyn said Labour would “carefully consider” any new proposals, but added: “I should reiterate that, without significant changes, we will continue to oppose the government’s deal as we do not believe it safeguards jobs, living standards and manufacturing industry in Britain.” | Corbyn said Labour would “carefully consider” any new proposals, but added: “I should reiterate that, without significant changes, we will continue to oppose the government’s deal as we do not believe it safeguards jobs, living standards and manufacturing industry in Britain.” |
| He cited May’s imminent departure as a reason why Labour had growing doubts “about the government’s ability to deliver on any compromise agreement”. | He cited May’s imminent departure as a reason why Labour had growing doubts “about the government’s ability to deliver on any compromise agreement”. |
| I have written to Theresa May to say that talks on finding a compromise agreement for leaving the European Union have gone as far as they can.The government's growing weakness and instability means there cannot be confidence in its ability to deliver. pic.twitter.com/H27qxDleaB | I have written to Theresa May to say that talks on finding a compromise agreement for leaving the European Union have gone as far as they can.The government's growing weakness and instability means there cannot be confidence in its ability to deliver. pic.twitter.com/H27qxDleaB |
| The prime minister on Thursday promised the executive of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers that she would set a date for her departure in the first week of June, leading MPs to believe she will trigger a leadership contest before the summer. | The prime minister on Thursday promised the executive of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers that she would set a date for her departure in the first week of June, leading MPs to believe she will trigger a leadership contest before the summer. |
| Corbyn wrote: “The position of the government has become ever more unstable and its authority eroded. Not infrequently, proposals by your negotiating team have been publicly contradicted by statements from other members of the cabinet.” | Corbyn wrote: “The position of the government has become ever more unstable and its authority eroded. Not infrequently, proposals by your negotiating team have been publicly contradicted by statements from other members of the cabinet.” |
| May’s spokesman denied the negotiations had been doomed from the outset, saying: “It was absolutely in the national interest to enter into these discussions.” | May’s spokesman denied the negotiations had been doomed from the outset, saying: “It was absolutely in the national interest to enter into these discussions.” |
| The focus will now move to the possibility of indicative votes in the Commons to find a compromise. According to a leaked government document seen by ITV and others, May wants to hold the votes next week, before a planned vote on a withdrawal agreement in the week starting 3 June. | The focus will now move to the possibility of indicative votes in the Commons to find a compromise. According to a leaked government document seen by ITV and others, May wants to hold the votes next week, before a planned vote on a withdrawal agreement in the week starting 3 June. |
| According to this supposed timetable, MPs could vote on whether to hold a second referendum on a final deal, which has support from many Labour MPs. | According to this supposed timetable, MPs could vote on whether to hold a second referendum on a final deal, which has support from many Labour MPs. |
| May’s spokesman declined to comment on the document, saying only: “We will be considering our next steps”. | May’s spokesman declined to comment on the document, saying only: “We will be considering our next steps”. |
| Speaking to reporters in north London, Corbyn said of the votes: “This is a novel process which we will obviously look at whenever it comes to parliament.” | Speaking to reporters in north London, Corbyn said of the votes: “This is a novel process which we will obviously look at whenever it comes to parliament.” |
| He added: “We would not rule out a second referendum. But it wouldn’t be a referendum on 2016 terms, it would be a referendum to prevent a no-deal, catastrophic exit from the European Union.” | He added: “We would not rule out a second referendum. But it wouldn’t be a referendum on 2016 terms, it would be a referendum to prevent a no-deal, catastrophic exit from the European Union.” |
| May has been under intense pressure from many Conservative MPs since the surprise announcement of the cross-party talks at the start of last month, with Tories fearful she would agree to Labour’s demand for a customs union to get a Brexit plan through parliament. | May has been under intense pressure from many Conservative MPs since the surprise announcement of the cross-party talks at the start of last month, with Tories fearful she would agree to Labour’s demand for a customs union to get a Brexit plan through parliament. |
| May refusing to budge on Brexit customs union, says Labour | May refusing to budge on Brexit customs union, says Labour |
| The pound fell below $1.28 on Friday for the first time since February, after the BBC led its bulletins with predictions of the imminent demise of the talks. | The pound fell below $1.28 on Friday for the first time since February, after the BBC led its bulletins with predictions of the imminent demise of the talks. |
| After May met the 1922 Committee executive on Thursday, its chair, Sir Graham Brady, said she would agree a timetable for the election of a new leader after her Brexit legislation returned to parliament for a final attempt in the week of 3 June. | After May met the 1922 Committee executive on Thursday, its chair, Sir Graham Brady, said she would agree a timetable for the election of a new leader after her Brexit legislation returned to parliament for a final attempt in the week of 3 June. |
| May had previously promised she would step down only after the first stage of a Brexit plan was agreed. However, there is near-unanimous expectation that the bill will be rejected by MPs again that week. | May had previously promised she would step down only after the first stage of a Brexit plan was agreed. However, there is near-unanimous expectation that the bill will be rejected by MPs again that week. |
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