Theresa May not budging on 'original red lines,' says Corbyn, as Brexit talks are to resume Tuesday
British PM is hoping to reach an agreement with the opposition to get her thrice-rejected exit deal approved
The British government has so far not given the opposition Labour Party the undertakings it needs in order to be able to back Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, party Leader Jeremy Corbyn said Monday.
May is hoping to reach an agreement with the Labour Party in order to get her exit deal — which has been rejected three times by Parliament — approved.
Technical talks between officials from the Conservative-led government and the Labour Party on finding a compromise on a Brexit deal resumed on Monday. Corbyn said talks between the two sides will continue Tuesday, but "we are looking for movement."
"The problem is the government does not seem to be moving off the original red lines," he said.
"I have put the case forward for a customs union with the European Union, for market access, and particularly for protection of rights for consumers, environment and those at work.... So far we haven't had those undertakings."
Earlier, Labour's Brexit pointman Keir Starmer said the two sides had not found a way forward on reaching an agreement on a divorce deal. The U.K. was scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, but was given an extension as political battles over exactly how Britain would depart continued in London.
If the EU refuses to acquiesce to May's request for another delay on Wednesday, Britain faces a sudden and chaotic departure on Friday — the Brexit extension deadline previously set by the EU.
Guarantees against 'no-deal' Brexit
Britain's Parliament approved legislation on Monday that gives lawmakers the power to scrutinize and even change May's request that the European Union agree to delay Brexit until June 30.
May has already asked Brussels to extend Britain's EU membership, to allow continued talks with the opposition Labour Party while in search of different exit plan.
But lawmakers want additional legal guarantees against a "no-deal" exit happening on April 12 and have crafted a law forcing ministers to consult with Parliament on Tuesday before May goes to Brussels.
"Both houses of Parliament have tonight strongly made clear their view that a no-deal would be deeply damaging to jobs, manufacturing and security of our country," said lawmaker Yvette Cooper, one of those responsible for proposing the legislation.
The bill gives lawmakers the chance to make legally binding changes to May's requested departure date during a debate scheduled to last 90 minutes on Tuesday. The Prime Minister would retain some freedom to agree a different date with the EU.
The passage of the bill represents a significant blow to May's authority, overturning the long-standing convention that the government has sole control of the agenda in Parliament, allowing it to control what laws are passed.
It also creates another flashpoint in a deeply divided body of lawmakers that could undermine May's attempts to persuade Brussels she can get Parliament to back a Brexit deal if the EU gives her more time.
French President Emmanuel Macron will host May for Brexit talks at the Élysée palace in Paris on Tuesday evening, a presidency official said on Monday. May will also travel to Berlin on Tuesday to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a German government official said.
Compromise necessary, official says
Labour favours a softer Brexit than the government has proposed, including a close economic relationship with the bloc through a customs union.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said Monday that both parties "must make sure we're all prepared to compromise."
"There's some urgency to it, but I do think it's important for everyone to take their responsibilities seriously, whatever party they come from, and try and get to a point where we leave the EU, as people have said they wish to do, and to do it on the best possible terms," he told the BBC. "I think that's achievable."
After U.K. lawmakers three times rejected May's agreement with the bloc that was struck late last year, the EU gave Britain until April 12 to approve a withdrawal plan, change course and seek a further delay to Brexit, or crash out of the EU with no deal to cushion the shock.
Economists and business leaders warn that a no-deal Brexit would lead to huge disruptions in trade and travel, with tariffs and customs checks causing gridlock at British ports and possible shortages of goods.
Worries about a no-deal Brexit are especially acute in Ireland, the only EU member state to share a land border with the U.K. Any customs checks or other obstacles along the currently invisible frontier would hammer the Irish economy, and could undermine Northern Ireland's peace process.
"There will be different views, but I am confident that we will reach agreement," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said, adding that Ireland is continuing to prepare for a no-deal Brexit while hoping it will be avoided.
EU meets Wednesday to consider delay
An extension for May's requested delay requires unanimous approval from the 27 remaining national leaders, some of whom are fed up with Brexit uncertainty and reluctant to prolong it further.
May's rapprochement with Labour infuriated pro-Brexit lawmakers in her Conservative Party, who say Britain must cut ties to the EU in order to forge an independent economic policy.
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, a leading Brexiteer, said a customs union would "enslave" the U.K.
"We should not agree to be non-voting members of the EU, under the surrender proposed by [Labour Leader] Jeremy Corbyn — it cannot, must not and will not happen," Johnson tweeted.
With files from Reuters