British Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged that the government's strategies to get her Brexit deal approved in Parliament failed, saying Saturday there's little prospect lawmakers will back the thrice-rejected divorce agreement "in the near future." With the U.K. once again days away from a deadline for leaving the European Union, May pressured opposition lawmakers to help her find a compromise agreement instead, saying voters "expect their politicians to work together when the national interest demands it." After May's deal with the EU out for a third time in the House of Commons, the prime minister invited the opposition Labour Party this week to discuss alternatives. But three days of talks ended with no agreement and the left-of-center Labour accusing May's Conservative government of not offering real change. "I haven't noticed any great change in the government's position so far," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Saturday. "I'm waiting to see the red lines move." Labour … [Read more...] about UK’s May concedes Brexit deal won’t pass ‘in near future’
Brexit deal
May concedes Brexit deal won’t pass ‘in near future’
British Prime Minister Theresa May has acknowledged that the government's strategies to get her Brexit deal approved in Parliament failed, saying on Saturday there is little prospect MPs will back the thrice-rejected divorce agreement "in the near future." With the United Kingdom once again days away from a deadline for leaving the European Union, May pressured opposition MPs to help her find a compromise agreement instead, saying voters "expect their politicians to work together when the national interest demands it." After May's deal with the EU out for a third time in the House of Commons, she invited the opposition Labour Party this week to discuss alternatives. But three days of talks ended with no agreement and the left-of-centre Labour accusing May's Conservative government of not offering real change. "I haven't noticed any great change in the government's position so far," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Saturday. "I'm waiting to see the red lines move." Labour favours a … [Read more...] about May concedes Brexit deal won’t pass ‘in near future’
Theresa May admits she can’t pass her Brexit deal without Labour
(CNN)British Prime Minister Theresa May has admitted that the only way of passing her Brexit deal is with support from the opposition Labour Party, in comments that are likely to deepen the tensions on her own side of the political divide in the UK. In a statement released late Saturday, May said the deal she'd negotiated with the European Union had been rejected three times by Parliament and there was no chance of it passing in its current form. Given that Parliament has also made clear it will oppose a no-deal Brexit, the only way to secure a deal was through a compromise with Labour, she said. Theresa May's plan for another Brexit delay has gone down badly in Europe "If we cannot secure a majority among Conservative and DUP MPs we have no choice but to reach out across the House of Commons," she said, referring to the Democratic Unionist Party, the small bloc from Northern Ireland that props up her minority government in the House of Commons. May's statement is an … [Read more...] about Theresa May admits she can’t pass her Brexit deal without Labour
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn would need to split both of their parties to achieve a Brexit deal — united they fall
THE truth is that Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May are not that far apart on Brexit. They might use different language but what they want is really quite similar. But DON’T THINK that this means a Brexit deal will be done between them. While they may not be that far apart, their parties are. A deal would require not one but BOTH of them to be prepared to split their parties. The Tories have been arguing about Europe for 40 years. The reason that Theresa May has been forced into these talks with someone she has regularly derided as a threat to national security is because too many of her own MPs won’t support her. If May was to soften her deal to try to get Labour support, she would exacerbate the divide within her own party. I am told that in the talks, the Government has tried to point out to Labour that the deal does, in the backstop, effectively include a customs union. But Labour has been insistent that the phrase “permanent customs union” … [Read more...] about Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn would need to split both of their parties to achieve a Brexit deal — united they fall
City MPs urge Jeremy Corbyn to agree Brexit deal without a second referendum
Stoke-on-Trent MPs Ruth Smeeth and Gareth Snell have signed a letter urging Jeremy Corbyn to agree a Brexit deal with Theresa May – and not request a second referendum. A total of 25 Labour MPs representing Leave areas, who also include Crewe & Nantwich's Laura Smith, wrote to their party leader ahead of his talks with the Prime Minister this week. They argue that if Mr Corbyn can secure key Labour aims such as a customs union and the protection of workers' rights, a confirmatory public ballot will not be necessary. The MPs call on Mr Corbyn to 'go the extra step' to secure a compromise, saying long Brexit delay and a referendum would harm Labour's election prospects. The letter states: "Our policy, agreed by members, accepts that the public voted to leave the EU and seeks a deal that secures jobs and rights at work. It does not require a confirmatory ballot on any deal that meets those conditions. "A second referendum would be exploited by the far right, damage the trust … [Read more...] about City MPs urge Jeremy Corbyn to agree Brexit deal without a second referendum