EU steps up talks with Labour

Brussels seeks Brexit assurances from Corbyn over fears Theresa May’s Government will collapse

By James Crisp in Brussels, Kate Mccann and Gordon Rayner

EU NEGOTIATORS have “significantly” increased back-room talks with Labour because they are becoming concerned Theresa May’s administration will collapse before Brexit is complete. Brussels is seeking assurances from Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, that he will honour agreements reached with the Conservatives if he comes to power.

Sources have told The Daily Telegraph that there has been “a significant change in tone” from Brussels towards Labour since the general election and meetings since then have been at a higher level and more frequent.

Both Mr Corbyn and Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, have held meetings with Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, and Frans Timmermans, the first vice-president of the European Commission, and others including members of the Brexit negotiating teams.

Meanwhile, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Britain’s former permanent representative in Brussels, said the Prime Minister’s vulnerability was now a “destabilising” influence on the negotiations.

Mrs May’s calamitous conference speech, and her failure to unite her party behind her Brexit plans, has caused concern in Brussels ahead of the resumption of Brexit talks on

Monday.

The Prime Minister will travel to Brussels on Oct 19 for a meeting of the European Council, which is expected to refuse to allow Brexit negotiators to begin trade talks with the UK. It will mean no progress will be made on trade talks until at least December, when the council next meets.

While it is in the interests of EU negotiators to pile pressure on Mrs May before then, The Daily Telegraph has been told that they are genuinely concerned that the talks may be rendered irrelevant if she is forced from office and there is a change of government.

To guard against having to reset the entire process, sources say they are taking Mr Corbyn “increasingly seriously” and some believe Labour has a more realistic approach to Brexit.

Since Sir Keir set out the party’s ambition for a status quo Brexit transition period in August, the communication between Labour and the EU has

intensified. EU negotiators believe Mr Corbyn and Sir Keir could soon be in power and want to know where they stand in case it is they who take over the talks.

Leading Brussels figures have told The Daily Telegraph that Brexit will continue with or without Mrs May but admitted the European Commission was increasingly anxious about promises made by her team being kept by a future government.

One well-placed Brussels source, familiar with the highest levels of EU policymaking, said: “Corbyn is beginning to be taken seriously in Brussels.

“He has been a mystery on European affairs through the referendum and since. People didn’t quite know what he wants or what he thinks but that is changing.”

The source added: “You have to believe that the other side’s negotiating position is genuine and you have to believe that whatever you agree along the way is going to be implemented in the future. There has to be a belief there is a consensus in the country that extends beyond the Government and to the future governments. That exists now but will it last?”

Sir Nigel, who was Britain’s permanent representative to the EU from 2000-2003, said Mrs May’s precarious position was “destabilising”.

He said: “The Europeans are getting to know the likes of David Davis and Philip Hammond and are getting along with them.”

He suggested that Mr Davis, the Brexit Secretary, or Mr Hammond, the Chancellor, becoming prime minister “might be a more stable option for the Europeans”, although he said Brussels had factored in Mrs May’s weakness when planning its strategy for the talks.

“The uncertainty about the balance of power and the personal authority of the Prime Minister is part of their calculations,” he said.

One EU source said: “Some take the view that there has to be a cathartic crisis on the UK side before things get serious. Others are beginning to take seriously the prospect of no deal.”