Corbyn invites senior MPS from all parties to unity meeting
JEREMY CORBYN has invited senior politicians including several Conservative MPS to a meeting to discuss averting a no-deal Brexit next week.
The news came as a senior Tory Brexiteer warned Boris Johnson that removing the Northern Ireland backstop from Britain’s Brexit deal will not be enough to win the support of hardline Eurosceptic Tory MPS.
In the letter, Mr Corbyn said: “The country is heading into a constitutional and political storm, so it is vital that we meet urgently, before Parliament returns.
“The chaos and dislocation of Boris Johnson’s no-deal Brexit is real and threatening, as the Government’s leaked Operation Yellowhammer dossier makes crystal clear. That’s why we must do everything we can to stop it.”
Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader; Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson; Liz Saville Roberts, the Commons Plaid Cymru leader; Green Party MP Caroline Lucas; and Anna Soubry, the Change UK leader, have been invited. Remain-backing Tory MPS Guto Bebb, Dominic Grieve, Sir Oliver Letwin and Caroline Spelman are also copied in, as is Nick Boles, the former Conservative minister who resigned the party whip in opposition to the Government’s approach to Brexit.
Mr Corbyn called the meeting – scheduled to take place next Tuesday at 12pm – despite a lukewarm response to suggestions of cross-party cooperation to prevent a no-deal exit last week.
Last night Ms Swinson accepted Mr Corbyn’s offer to meet, saying: “We must focus on workable options that can actually stop no-deal Brexit, be- cause we do not have time to waste. If Jeremy Corbyn truly wants to stop nodeal, then he must be open to options other than his plan to become prime minister and I look forward to hearing about the different options he is willing to explore.”
Last week, he called for the parties to support his call for vote of no confidence in the Government in autumn after which he would lead a “time-limited” caretaker government that would extend Article 50 and call an election.
James Cleverley, the Conservative Party chairman, accused Mr Corbyn of trying to “dither and delay” Brexit. Mr Cleverly said: “Jeremy Corbyn will do all he can to stop delivering on the referendum result.”
Mr Blackford said: “All options must be on the table. The SNP stands ready to pursue every avenue, including passing legislation to block no-deal and a vote of no confidence in the Tory government.”
He instead suggested senior Conservative and Labour backbenchers Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman could take the helm.