THERESA May was last night facing the prospect of more resignations from her government as she announced she would seek a further delay to Brexit and would meet with Jeremy Corbyn to find a way to break the current impasse.
Following a seven hour meeting with her Cabinet she offered to hold talks with the Labour leader to develop a proposal which could be taken to a special European Council meeting on Wednesday and which could form the basis for a new request to the EU for a delay. The UK faces crashing out on April 12 without a deal which a leaked letter written by Whitehall’s top civil servant warned yesterday could lead to food price hikes of 10%, an economic recession and security issues.
But according to reports 14 ministers were said to be opposed to May asking for a second extension to the Article 50 process, while 10 backed it. One political journalist noted Scottish Secretary David Mundell was said to be “undecided” on the matter.
In a televised address from Downing Street May said any proposal would have to accept the withdrawal agreement – including its backstop – and focus on amendments to the political declaration on the future EU/UK relationship. She added a bill to pave the way for departure would have to be in place by May 22 to ensure the UK did not have to take part in European Parliament elections. Her decision to include only Corbyn in the talks also angered the SNP.
Ian Blackford, the party’s leader at Westminster, said: “Scotland has been utterly ignored throughout the Brexit process, and Theresa May’s can-kicking statement tonight merely prolongs the agony instead of providing any clarity on a way forward.”
He renewed calls for a long extension to allow for a second EU vote and raised concerns if April 12 – the deadline to decide on whether the UK would take part in European elections passes – then 22 May could become a new date for “a cliff-edge” Brexit.
“The danger in the PM’s approach is that if April 12th passes with no commitment to hold European Parliament elections, May 22nd then becomes the inescapable point of a cliff-edge Brexit – the PM must not be allowed to do that and say it’s her deal or no deal,” he said. “What the Brexit fiasco is proving beyond doubt is that Scotland is not an equal partner in the UK and that the only way to properly protect our national interests is with independence.”
May said the ideal outcome of her talks with Corbyn would be to agree an approach on a future relationship that they could both put to the Commons for approval and which she could take to next week’s European Council.
“However, if we cannot agree on the single unified approach, then we would instead agree a number of options for the future relationship that we could put to the House in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue,” she said. “Crucially, the Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House. But to make this process work, the opposition would need to agree to this too.”
Her announcement for talks with Corbyn could result in a softer Brexit and infuriated Tory Brexiteers.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, of the ERG, said: “What was announced today was an attempt to overturn Brexit in an attempt to do a deal with the socialists. It’s very serious.”
One Tory MP Brexiteer was reported as saying: “A new low. We delegate the decision making on this to the man we’ve spent four years saying isn’t fit to govern. You couldn’t make it up. Let’s give him the keys to screw our colleagues in marginal seats. Seriously?”
The DUP said: "The prime minister’s lamentable handling of the negotiations with the EU means she has failed to deliver a sensible Brexit deal that works for all parts of the United Kingdom. That is why she has not been able to get it through parliament.
"Her announcement therefore tonight comes as little surprise.
"Though it remains to be seen if subcontracting out the future of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn, someone whom the Conservatives have demonised for four years, will end happily.
"We want the result of the referendum respected and, just as we joined the common market as one country, we must leave the EU as one country."
Corbyn has agreed to meet May for talks.
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