HELP ME, JEREMY
» Desperate May’s plea to Corbyn for joint approach as she delays EU exit » Hardline Tories’ fury over move to softer deal.. while Jezza says he’ll talk
DESPERATE Theresa May yesterday begged Jeremy Corbyn to help rescue her Brexit deal.
But the move, along with a further delay, sparked a furious split in her Cabinet, as Leavers feared it will lead to a softer exit.
The Labour leader agreed to talks. One Tory said: “It is a divisive move which puts Brexit’s future in Corbyn’s hands.”
THERESA May last night faced a furious backlash from her own MPs after turning to Jeremy Corbyn in a desperate bid to rescue her shattered Brexit plan.
The PM offered to have talks with the Labour leader to break the deadlock that is crippling Britain as we career towards a potentially disastrous no-deal.
But there were fears the move was a cynical ploy to trap Mr Corbyn into sharing the blame for her calamitous handling of Brexit if they cannot agree a compromise way forward.
And the move caused a massive split among her own ministers, with Leavers blasting Mrs May for going cap in hand to Labour to save her deal, which has been rejected three times. It signalled she would opt for a softer exit. As many as 14 ministers criticised her plan.
The PM’s move could even prompt Tory Brexiteers to vote against the Government in a confidence motion, bringing Mrs May down.
It came after an explosive seven-hour Cabinet meeting called to try to bring an end to the impasse. But all the PM could come up with was an offer to talk to the Opposition – which many believe was how the whole Brexit negotiations should have started three years ago.
No10 confirmed that a customs union – which 236 Tories voted against this week – and a confirmatory second referendum were both on the table.
One Cabinet source said: “This is a deeply divisive move which puts the future of Brexit in the hands of Jeremy
Corbyn and the EU. There is no way the party will stand for this. She can expect trouble ahead.”
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson added: “It is very disappointing that the Cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.
“It now seems all too likely that British trade policy and key law making powers will be handed over to Brussels, with no say for the UK.”
Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “The history of political parties and political leaders who get major parts of business through on the back of opposition votes is not a good one.
“You do find leaders that do decide to go with the opposition find that their own party doesn’t tamely follow.”
Downing Street was last night on resignation watch as several Cabinet ministers privately shared their anger.
Mrs May promised that if talks with the Labour leader ended in deadlock she would then let MPs decide the future relationship with the EU.
A No10 source said: “You know the PM’s views but unless there is compromise on both sides it is unlikely there is a way forward and Jeremy Corbyn needs to understand that too.”
To avoid a damaging no-deal Brexit Mrs May revealed her plan to kick the can down the road and ask the EU for another delay.
Many MPs also fear a long extension with Brussels reluctant to grant one unless the PM shows she has a clear path forward.
After the fractious Cabinet meeting, Mrs May said: “This is a difficult time for everyone. Passions are running high on all sides of the argument.
“But we can and must find the compromises that will deliver what the British people voted for. This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands. And it requires national unity to deliver the national interest.” The PM hopes to
You do find leaders who go with opposition find their party does not follow JACOB REES-MOGG BLASTING PM’S DECISION TO BEG CORBYN FOR HELP
sit down with Mr Corbyn as early as today with the aim of striking an agreement to be put in front of MPs before an emergency Brexit summit in Brussels next week.
She stressed any agreement was dependent on Labour backing her deal and helping deliver Brexit by May 22.
But that date is in the hands of Brussels chiefs who could yet demand that the UK goes for a longer extension.
Mr Corbyn agreed last night to meet the PM. He said: “We recognise that she has made a move.
“I recognise my responsibility to represent the people that supported Labour in the last election, and the people who didn’t support Labour, but nevertheless want certainty and security for their own future. That’s the basis on which we will meet her and we will have those discussions.”
But the move could also spell trouble for Mr Corbyn with Remain-backing MPs deeply unhappy about being seen to facilitate Brexit.
Redcar MP Anna Turley said: “She [Mrs May] is now trying to dip Jeremy Corbyn’s hands into the mess of Brexit.”
Others warned Mr Corbyn should make a fresh referendum a condition of Labour’s support. Cardiff South MP Stephen Doughty said: “I sadly suspect the PM is not serious about cross-party talks, given her failure to engage seriously last time, but Labour will not engage in facilitating Tory Brexit.”
Sources suggested Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and Environment Secretary Michael Gove had played a pivotal role in getting the PM to meet Mr Corbyn by declaring that this was the moment to “give Labour what they want” to finally get the deal through.
The European Parliament’s Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: “Good that PM Theresa May is looking for a cross-party compromise. Better late than never.”
It is a deeply divisive move which puts Brexit’s future in the hands of Corbyn A CABINET SOURCE ON PM TURNING TO LABOUR LEADER