Jeremy Corbyn says crunch Brexit talks with Theresa May went ‘very well’
Jeremy Corbyn tonight announced his historic Brexit talks with Theresa May had gone "very well."
After the talks, which lasted almost two hours, Jeremy Corbyn told the Mirror he expected to sit down again with the PM soon.
The discussions between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn took place in the Prime Minister's office in the Commons to thrash out a plan for a softer Brexit.
Hints that Mrs May will soften her plan dramatically to allow a customs union have prompted a furious backlash in the Tory party – including two resignations.
And Jeremy Corbyn is facing growing pressure to demand a second referendum as a "red line" after Emily Thornberry told MPs any deal "must be subject to a confirmatory public vote".
But Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are steaming ahead, setting up full negotiating teams as talks step up in the coming days.
Mrs May's team is her deputy David Lidington, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, the Chief Whip and chief of staff Gavin Barwell, with official support.
Attending tonight's meeting were Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, chief whip Julian Smith and senior Number 10 aides on the Government side and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey and shadow chief whip Nick Brown on the Labour side.
The Mirror also understands Britain's chief Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins was in the room for the meeting.
A Labour spokesperson said: "We have had constructive exploratory discussions about how to break the Brexit deadlock.
"We have agreed a programme of work between our teams to explore the scope for agreement."
Mr Corbyn later said the talks were "useful but inconclusive" adding "there has not been as much change as I expected".
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Today’s talks were constructive, with both sides showing flexibility and a commitment to bring the current Brexit uncertainty to a close.
"We have agreed a programme of work to ensure we deliver for the British people, protecting jobs and security.”
It's understood a further planning meeting will be held tonight in Parliament, along with technical discussions throughout the day tomorrow between the teams.
Amid claims that Labour could table a no confidence motion in the Government if talks broke down, a Cabinet minister told the Mirror they thought that was "unlikely".
"There are a lot of independent MPs in the Commons just now," the Cabinet minister said.
"If they vote against the Government in a confidence vote and trigger a general election they will lose their seats."They don't want that, so they may well abstain."
Jeremy Corbyn faced growing calls tonight to refuse to back the PM unless she agrees to hold a second EU referendum on any deal.
Labour frontbench aide James Frith called for an "urgent" meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party to push Mr Corbyn on the issue.
And Labour People's Vote backer Dame Margaret Beckett said her leader should walk out of the meetings if a second referendum was not on the table.
Asked about whether a referendum on the deal should be on the table – as shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has also reportedly said – Mr Corbyn said: "There was no deal offered.
"There was no deal offered by us either. We just discussed where we are at.
"She reiterated where she is at at the present time. So red lines in the future didn't come up."
Mr Corbyn said he raised the issue of a public vote with Mrs May – but suggested the policy was to have one only if it is to stop No Deal or a bad deal, not on any deal.
"I said this is the policy of our party, that we would want to pursue the option of a public vote to prevent crashing out or to prevent leaving with a bad deal.
"There was no agreement reached on that, we just put it there as one of the issues that the Labour Party conference voted on last year."
Meanwhile Theresa May's decision to thrash out a softer Brexit sparked a war in the Conservative Party.
Hardliners accused the Prime Minister of collaborating with a "Marxist" after she begged for the talks today to "break the logjam" following a 7-hour Cabinet showdown.
The first resignation came at 9.36am as Wales Minister Nigel Adams quit with a blast at the PM's "grave error".
He said it was clear Britain will now end up in a softer Brexit with Labour's idea of a customs union – a plan only 36 Tory MPs backed this week.
Mrs May was forced to write a desperate letter to her MPs this morning – as Hardline Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said she had crowned Jeremy Corbyn "deputy" Prime Minister.
And she was accused by her own MPs of "ushering in a Marxist, anti-Semite led government" in a string of attacks at PMQs.
It came as the clock ticked down to find a deal and ask the EU for a delay before an emergency summit of 27 leaders next Wednesday.
The Government has until 5pm tomorrow to table a motion if it wants to stage a Monday vote on its latest plan.
That would include any agreement struck with Mr Corbyn.
Mr Corbyn was also meeting Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for separate talks.
Addressing reporters afterwards the SNP leader said she thought the Labour leader would “drive a hard bargain”.
But said he must demand a second EU referendum – and warned him not to “sell out”.
“I do think there would be a heavy price if [Labour] become handmaidens of a Tory Brexit and don’t give people the opportunity to decide," she said.
“I will remain optimistic.
“I hope Jeremy Corbyn will not sell out too cheaply but I cannot be sure.”
Ms Sturgeon suggested her MPs could shift to back a customs union deal – allowing it to pass – if it’s the only option to avoid No Deal.
“I’m not going to make an abstract decision before knowing exactly what the choices are," she said.
“We have always said we would do everything we can to avert No Deal, and always opt for a soft Brexit over a hard Brexit if those are the only choices.”
Ms Sturgeon also met Theresa May – but warned the Prime Minister “wasn’t very open about the detail” of where she would move.
“I made the point pretty forcibly to her – if you want to get into discussion about compromise it has to be a two way discussion,” she said.
The PM branded a second EU referendum “divisive” and said free movement must end, she said.
But Ms Sturgeon said the PM was “a bit more open in tone” and “less scripted” than before.
“It was a good positive friendly discussion,” she added.
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