PM wants Labour MPs to back her deal
THERESA May has said she will offer MPs the chance to copy EU rules on workers’ rights after Brexit.
The PM hopes to win Labour support for her withdrawal agreement after its crushing Commons defeat last month.
The move came in her reply to Jeremy Corbyn’s five demands, which included this and a customs union. She said:
“We are… prepared to commit to asking Parliament whether it wishes to follow suit whenever the EU changes its standards.”
Treasury Secretary Liz Truss yesterday refused to rule out quitting the Cabinet if Mrs May bowed to the Labour leader’s call for a customs union.
The PM told Mr Corbyn her deal “provides for the benefit of a customs union” while allowing the UK to make deals elsewhere.
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said MPs may not get a meaningful vote on a revised pact this month, but could get a say on amendments. There is suspicion the PM will give MPs a choice of her deal or no deal just days before the UK is due to leave the EU. However, she faces a string of votes on Thursday that could derail her timetable. Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer demanded a “hard stop” vote by February 26. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay meets EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier today as the Confederation of British Industry said: “We’re in the emergency zone now.” Meanwhile, MPs want to grill Transport Secretary Chris Grayling after a £14million deal with a freight company which had no ships was cancelled.
■ Households have £1,500 a year less disposable income since the Brexit vote, think-tank the Resolution Foundation found. PM Theresa May
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