UK must ‘show determination’

PM IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS CHANGES TO DEAL Opposition’s Corbyn publishes his list of demands before Brexit renegotiation.

British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn met Prime Minister Theresa May last week and has written her a letter, putting forward five demands by his Labour Party on the Brexit deal, his party said.

In the letter, Corbyn said the Brexit deal must include a “permanent and comprehensive” United Kingdom-wide customs union, a close alignment with the single market, “unambiguous agreements” on future security arrangements and commitments on UK participation in European Union (EU) agencies and funding programmes.

The Labour leader wants the demands to be put into law before Britain leaves the EU.

Corbyn also reiterated that there must not be a return to a hard border in Northern Ireland, adding that all steps must be taken to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Last month, British lawmakers rejected a deal that set out the terms by which Britain would exit the EU. They voted to demand May seek changes to the treaty.

Britain is due to leave EU on March 29.

Yesterday, May called on the EU to work with her to change the deal and help her win the support of a divided parliament to smooth Britain’s departure from the bloc.

Before arriving in Brussels for talks with reluctant EU leaders, she acknowledged her task to force change would not be easy and a source said a quick breakthrough was not expected.

Acknowledging that the agreement “was the product of much hard work and was negotiated in good faith”, May will tell EU leaders that her parliament had sent “an unequivocal message that change is required”, according to her office.

“We must show determination and do what it takes to now get the deal over the line.” –