BREXIT talks between Labour and the Tories broke down last night, with Jeremy Corbyn accusing the Prime Minister of failing to back down from her red lines.
It was the fifth day of talks between the two parties and there has seemingly been little accomplished.
The faltering negotiations came as a new poll revealed that support for the Tories and Labour has plummeted as a result of their incompetence over Brexit.
READ MORE: Will there be an indyref2 announcement? What to expect this week
Meanwhile, in a move that has further infuriated and alienated the Brexiteers on her backbenches, May has all but conceded that the Tories are to fight next month’s European elections.
In an email to potential candidates, the party says that “due to the current situation we will be contesting the European elections on May 23 2019”.
Last week more than 170 Tory MPs signed a letter to the Prime Minister urging her to ensure the UK does not take part in the European elections.
The party could face being wiped out in any election, with Leave supporters switching votes to Ukip or Nigel Farage’s new Brexit party.
Over the weekend, Sir Graham Brady (pictured below), chair of the 1922 Committee, told the Observer: “British participation in European elections three years after a majority of the British people voted to leave the EU would be a massive political mistake. The results for the mainstream parties would be likely to be poor and more extreme parties would be looking forward to a massive opportunity.
“Everything should be done to ensure the UK leaves in the near future, obviating the need to participate in the European elections.”
The mess for May at home comes as the country edges closer to a no-deal Brexit.
READ MORE: What exactly is a customs union and why are MPs divided on it?
The Prime Minister is flying to Berlin and Paris today to meet with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron as she tries to win support for an extension to Brexit negotiations at tomorrow’s summit.
To avoid a no-deal Brexit on Friday, when the current extension comes to an end, the Prime Minister will have to show that she is working on a solution to the impasse in Westminster.
Last night, Corbyn said that could only happen if there was “real movement” by the Prime Minister on securing an agreement with “a customs union with the EU, alignment with the single market and full dynamic alignment of workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer standards.”
Downing Street insisted May was treating the cross-party talks with “urgency”.
Meanwhile, speaking during a visit to Dublin, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured above) said that despite what Brexiteers promised, the UK could not escape demands for a £39 billion payment and a “backstop” for the Irish border by quitting without a deal.
“If the UK were to leave the EU without a deal we would not discuss anything with the UK until there is an agreement for Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as for citizens’ rights and the financial settlement.”
At a joint press conference with Leo Varadkar, Barnier told the Taoiseach: “You have our full support and, I have said before, the backstop is currently the only solution we have found to maintain the status-quo on the island of Ireland.”
He also said the EU “can be much more ambitious” in its future relations with the UK.
“The political declaration provides for a range of outcomes including a customs union. We are ready to make this clearer if this helps and this work can be done this extremely quickly,” he said.
If no deal can be reached with Labour, May has committed to putting a series of Brexit options to MPs.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel