Friday, 3 May 2024

Corbyn ploughs into MORE Brexit talks with May after big customs union hint

Jeremy Corbyn has savaged Theresa May's "failure" over Brexit after the shamefaced Prime Minister returned from Brussels with yet another delay.

Labour's leader said delaying our exit to Halloween was "another milestone" in the mishandling of Brexit .

But he announced in the House of Commons that he will enter more cross-party talks over Brexit – which will continue despite MPs starting their Easter break tonight.

And despite both sides doubting a breakthrough, with no date yet set for another face-to-face meeting with the two leaders, Theresa May dropped a big hint that she could move to back Labour's plan for a customs union.

Admitting it was "not the normal way of British politics", she said there was "more agreement on a customs union than we give credit for".

It came as the shamefaced Prime Minister returned from Brussels, where EU leaders rejected her bid for a short sharp delay to Brexit, to an angry House of Commons.

A string of Tory hardliners were left furious by the new delay to October 31 – with one, Bill Cash, saying she must resign over her "abject surrender".

Mr Corbyn said the statement came just three weeks after Mrs May solemnly pledged that "as Prime Minister", she would not delay Brexit beyond June 30.

He said the new delay "represents not only a diplomatic failure, it’s another milestone in the government’s mishandling of the entire Brexit process."

Mr Corbyn complained the PM's latest extension was secured "not even at the 11th hour but at five past midnight".

And he said Britain is now in the “extraordinary situation” of electing MEPs, not knowing if they will take their seats.

He declared: "The Prime Minister stuck rigidly to a flawed plan and now the clock has run down."

Labour's leader accused Tory Liam Fox of trying to "scupper" plans for a customs union by hitting out in a letter to MPs.

And he warned a future Tory leader could usher in a "dystopian" future where the UK takes hormone-tainted beef in a US trade deal.

Despite his attack, Jeremy Corbyn said Labour would "continue to engage constructively" on talks with Tories on the way forward – which resume today.

But he warned: "The red lines must move and we must see a real compromise."

During a fiery Q&A, Theresa May admitted she had not offered Labour a second referendum on Brexit in the cross-party talks.

Yet she accepted some MPs may press their case for a second referendum when legislation to implement Brexit comes forward.

And she hinted she could fold and back Jeremy Corbyn's hopes for a softer Brexit with a customs union with the EU.

Saying there needed to be "compromise on both sides", Mrs May told MPs: "I think there is actually more agreement in relation to a customs union than is often given credit for when different language is used.

"We've been very clear that we want to obtain the benefits of a customs union – no tariffs, no rules of origin checks and no quotas – while being able to operate our own independent trade policy.

"The Labour Party has said they want a say in trade policy – the question is how we ensure we can provide for this country to be in charge of its trade policy in the future."

Theresa May admitted the new plan to delay Brexit to October 31 was a "compromise" after "difficult" talks with EU leaders.

But she boasted she had successfully argued against "stringent" conditions on the UK's continuing membership.

And she insisted it was still possible to leave the EU within weeks without having to hold EU elections – as long as MPs finally backed her deal.

Quoting EU chief Donald Tusk, she declared the course of action “will be entirely in the UK’s hands”.

"This is not the normal way of British politics," she admitted, "and it is uncomfortable for many in both the Government and opposition parties."

Telling MPs "we need to resolve this", she said: "This is our national duty as elected members of this House – and nothing today is more pressing or more vital."

MPs will set off on an shortened, 11-day Easter holiday at 5pm today just hours after EU chief Donald Tusk begged the UK: "Please do not waste this time."

Downing Street sources did not rule out speculation that Theresa May could use the break to take a walking holiday.

The Prime Minister told MPs: "Let us use the opportunity of the Recess to reflect on the decisions that will have to be made swiftly on our return after Easter.

"And let us then resolve to find a way through this impasse."

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