Corbyn snubs British PM’s call for Brexit talks
Theresa May’s hopes of reaching a cross-party solution to the Brexit paralysis were dealt a serious blow before they even began yesterday as she was snubbed by Jeremy Corbyn.
After winning a confidence vote by 325 votes to 306, Prime Minister May asked the leaders of the opposition parties to meet her individually to discuss a way forward for the Brexit deal. But Labour leader Corbyn turned down her invitation, saying he would only hold ‘‘substantive’’ talks if May first agreed to take a no-deal Brexit off the table.
Downing Street made it clear that Britain will leave the EU on March 29 regardless of whether a deal is in place. It means May must find ways of winning over Labour backbenchers and her own rebel MPs if she is to get a deal through Parliament.
The Government won the confidence vote – called by Corbyn after its historic defeat on the Brexit deal on Tuesday – by a majority of 19, thanks in part to the support of the DUP. Four MPs abstained, including three independents and a Labour MP who was ill.
In contrast to the 118-strong Tory rebellion of Wednesday, every Tory voted against the motion that would have toppled May had she lost.
She responded to the result by vowing to ‘‘deliver on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the referendum result’’.
Corbyn responded: ‘‘Before there can be any discussions, the Government must remove clearly, once and for all, the prospect of the catastrophe of a nodeal exit from the EU.’’
Tory MPs said Corbyn would now have to take the blame if Britain ended up leaving without a deal.
In contrast, Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, Sir Vince Cable, the Lib Dem leader, and Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, all went to No 10 for talks.
May spent yesterday meeting Eurosceptics in her own party while ministers including David Lidington and Michael Gove will see senior Labour MPs in the hope they will break from Corbyn and back a reworked deal.
Yesterday May refused to rule out entering a customs union with the European Union in order to get a deal through Parliament.
Corbyn asked her at Prime Minister’s Questions to confirm that her Government had ‘‘ruled out any form of customs union with the European Union as part of their reaching out exercise’’. This would be unacceptable to Tory Brexiteers as a customs union with the bloc would almost certainly prevent the UK from striking independent trade deals. May said: ‘‘The Government wants first to ensure we deliver on the result of the referendum – that is leaving the European Union – and we want to do so in a way that ensures we respect the votes of those who voted to leave in that referendum.
‘‘That means ending free movement, getting a fairer deal for farmers and fishermen, opening up new opportunities to trade with the rest of the world and keeping good ties with our neighbours in Europe.’’
– Telegraph Group