Brexit news latest: Theresa May facing cabinet walkouts after 'handing Jeremy Corbyn keys to Brexit'

Megan White3 April 2019
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Theresa May is facing Cabinet walkouts after she announced plans for another delay to Brexit and a compromise with Jeremy Corbyn.

More than a dozen senior Tories have spoken out against a long extension, although last night most refused to be drawn on whether they would step down.

Ministers including Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt are thought to have spoken out against the Prime Minister as she announced plans to work with Jeremy Corbyn.

Nigel Adams, assistant Government whip and junior minister for Wales, became the first to quit over the move on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister gave a press conference announcing her plans on Tuesday evening
AP

Mrs May said on Tuesday that she would seek an extension beyond next week to allow negotiations with the Labour leader aimed at ensuring the UK leaves the European Union "in a timely and orderly way".

She is due to meet for talks with Mr Corbyn today, according to Brexit Minister Robin Walker.

"Of course I understand colleagues will have concerns... both parties stood on manifestos to deliver Brexit. We need to sit down together and work out a way forward," he told Sky News.

Following the mammoth seven-hour Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, one source said ministers were split 14-10 against asking for a long extension to the Brexit process.

But a second Cabinet source said ministers spoke 17-4 in favour of the limited extension sought by the Prime Minister, with just Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt, Chris Grayling and Liz Truss opposed to the measure.

Jeremy Corbyn holds the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future of UK-EU relations
REUTERS

If the European Council proposes an extension beyond May 22, it is understood that it would be possible for the UK to take the steps necessary to prepare for European Parliament elections on May 23, but then cancel them at the last minute if the withdrawal deal was ratified.

Theresa May said last night that she is willing to work with the Labour leader in an attempt to "break the logjam" over Brexit, but she was accused of handing over "the keys to Brexit."

Mr Corbyn said he would be "very happy" to meet the Prime Minister in a bid to offer "certainty and security" to the British people - but Tory Brexiteers reacted with anger.

Jacob Rees-Mogg described the offer as "deeply unsatisfactory" and accused Mrs May of planning to collaborate with "a known Marxist".

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: "It is very disappointing that the Cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party."

The DUP said it "remains to be seen if sub-contracting out the future of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn, someone whom the Conservatives have demonised for four years, will end happily".

But Environment Secretary Michael Gove said he backed the talks with Labour because he wants to leave the EU.

He told BBC Two's Newsnight: "One of my concerns has been that there are people within the House of Commons who want to frustrate that referendum mandate - there are people who want to do everything possible to prevent us leaving - and I wanted to ensure that minds are concentrated so that we do leave."

The leaders' meeting is expected to take place as a cross-party group of senior MPs launches a separate attempt to force the PM to stop a no-deal Brexit by tabling legislation requiring her to delay Britain's withdrawal beyond April 12.

A group of MPs - including Conservative grandee Sir Oliver Letwin and Labour's Yvette Cooper - aim to fully pass a Bill through the Commons on Wednesday to stop the UK crashing out of the EU.

Instead of initiating a third round of indicative votes on Wednesday, when Parliament once more has control over the Commons timetable, Sir Oliver will table a paving motion to allow debate and votes on Ms Cooper's Bill. An amendment to his motion would set aside April 8 for indicative votes.

The single-clause Cooper Bill requires the Prime Minister to table her own motion seeking MPs' approval for an extension to the Article 50 process of Brexit talks to a date of her choosing.

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