UK's May presses Labour to reach Brexit deal, but leaks jeopardise talks

By David Milliken and William James

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at the Scottish Conservative conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain May 3, 2019. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday stepped up calls for Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to agree a cross-party deal to leave the European Union, following poor results for both parties in local elections on Thursday.

 

The parties have been in negotiations for over a month to try to broker a Brexit deal that can secure majority support in parliament, after May's minority government suffered three heavy defeats on her preferred deal this year and was forced to delay Britain's departure.

 

"To the leader of the opposition I say this: Let's listen to what the voters said in the local elections and put our differences aside for a moment. Let's do a deal," she wrote in the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

 

Labour responded by saying any deal should be done quickly, but accused May of leaking details of the compromise under discussion and jeopardising the talks.

 

May's Conservatives lost more than a thousand seats on English local councils that were up for re-election, and Labour - which would typically aim to gain hundreds of seats in a mid-term vote - lost 81.

 

The talks with Labour are a last resort for May, whose party's deep divisions over Brexit have so far stopped her getting approval for an exit agreement and left the world's fifth largest economy in prolonged political limbo.

 

The Sunday Times reported that the Conservatives would offer new concessions to Labour when talks restart on Tuesday, including a temporary customs union with the EU until a national election due in June 2022.

 

"At that point Labour could use their manifesto to argue for a softer Brexit if they wanted to and a new Conservative prime minister could argue for a harder Brexit," a source cited by the Sunday Times said.

 

Labour's Corbyn has made a permanent customs union with the EU a condition for supporting May's Brexit plans, while most Conservatives oppose a customs union as it would stop Britain from reaching its own trade deals with other countries.

 

JEOPARDISED

The report on the terms of a possible compromise angered Corbyn's senior ally John McDonnell, who oversees the party's finance policy and has been involved in the Brexit talks.

 

Asked if he trusted May, McDonnell said: "No, sorry. Not after this weekend when she's blown the confidentiality... I actually think she's jeopardised the negotiations for her own personal protection."

 

Nevertheless, McDonnell said talks would continue this week and if a deal could still be struck, it must be concluded quickly.

 

Even then, the parliamentary approval - required by law - is not straightforward.

 

A customs union would upset the most pro-Brexit members of the Conservative Party who say it does not honour the terms of the country's 2016 vote to leave the EU.

 

Eurosceptic lawmaker John Redwood tweeted on Sunday that a cross-party agreement that amounted to staying in the bloc was "the last thing we need."

 

On the other side of the Brexit divide, the Observer newspaper reported that scores of Labour lawmakers had written to May and Corbyn to insist on a second Brexit referendum on any deal agreed.

 

Veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, whose new Brexit Party is predicted to make big gains in European Parliament elections this month, said a Conservative-Labour Brexit deal on a customs union would be "a coalition of politicians against the people."

 

A temporary customs union would also be likely to raise EU concerns that it could lead to customs checks on the border between euro zone member Ireland and the UK province of Northern Ireland if it later breaks down - something Ireland objects to strongly.

 

(Reporting by David Milliken and William James; Editing by John Stonestreet)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-06

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Labour Deputy says he can not trust the Tories...'s 

 

To be honest I would not trust Labour or the Tories.

 

I am sure that labour is trying to force a deal that they know most Tory MP's will not support and they can blame the Tories when it gets voted down in the commons.

What should have been relatively straightforward has just turned into a complete debacle. Whatever the benefits or negatives of being in, or being out of the EU, I personally now wish that the whole thing had never been started. The Pound has been destroyed by it and after three years, where exactly are we? Up a certain creek in a leaky boat with no paddle and no clue which way the boat should be pointing. The EU should kick us out for being so incompetent.

The vicar's daughter is a liar, not to be trusted in any way, shape or form.

That worked well, David! 

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

What should have been relatively straightforward has just turned into a complete debacle. Whatever the benefits or negatives of being in, or being out of the EU, I personally now wish that the whole thing had never been started. The Pound has been destroyed by it and after three years, where exactly are we? Up a certain creek in a leaky boat with no paddle and no clue which way the boat should be pointing. The EU should kick us out for being so incompetent.

Sounds like a plan. ????

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

The vicar's daughter is a liar, not to be trusted in any way, shape or form.

 

Would you trust Marxist McConnell, Commie Corbyun or brain dead racist Abbott anymore than treasonous Theresa, or the mega wealthy Boris and R-Mogg?

 

I wouldn't. They're all lying bar stewards!

What should have been relatively straightforward has just turned into a complete debacle. Whatever the benefits or negatives of being in, or being out of the EU, I personally now wish that the whole thing had never been started. The Pound has been destroyed by it and after three years, where exactly are we? Up a certain creek in a leaky boat with no paddle and no clue which way the boat should be pointing. The EU should kick us out for being so incompetent.

Why don't they kick us out??
Answer..they want the hard pressed UK taxpayers to keep funding the eu subsidy junkie member states.
Always study the money trail in politics...ALWAYS!!
Anyway..terreesa the appeesa had guests for supper last night.

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

7 hours ago, Basil B said:

Labour Deputy says he can not trust the Tories...'s 

 

To be honest I would not trust Labour or the Tories.

 

I am sure that labour is trying to force a deal that they know most Tory MP's will not support and they can blame the Tories when it gets voted down in the commons.

If anything is agreed between May and the Labour party it will undoubtedly not be good for the UK. It will probably benefit the EU and therefore be accepted, regardless that the EU says no change to the Merkel/May Surrender Treaty.

 

Hopefully the upcoming piece of treachery would be voted down in the Commons, but the turncoat LAB MPs will of course follow their party lines, so this cannot be assured. 

Looks like Mogg and Boris have evaporated Corbyn cant make any sense even to himself May is doing the oki koki with her vote and Junker and Barnacle are doing great on the exchange rate meantime Cameron is lying low as a snakes belly probably in the Caymans rue Britannia this is what taking back control looks like ????  

If May really were to listen to what the voters said then she'd just pack up and piss off.

34 minutes ago, Loiner said:

If anything is agreed between May and the Labour party it will undoubtedly not be good for the UK. It will probably benefit the EU and therefore be accepted, regardless that the EU says no change to the Merkel/May Surrender Treaty.

 

Hopefully the upcoming piece of treachery would be voted down in the Commons, but the turncoat LAB MPs will of course follow their party lines, so this cannot be assured. 

One thing for sure Both Tories and Labour will put their interests before those of the nation.

40 minutes ago, Loiner said:

Hopefully the upcoming piece of treachery would be voted down in the Commons, but the turncoat LAB MPs will of course follow their party lines, so this cannot be assured. 

Not exactly.  The Labour MP's are not following party lines and nor are the Tories.  Both parties are split with many Labour MP's trying to force Corbyn to demand a second referendum as part of any agreement.  Likewise many Tories are spitting blood because of May's talks with the enemy and have said they will vote against any agreement made with Corbyn.  The rebellion by both camps jeopardise any agreement getting through parliament which leaves us where we have been all along.  Nobody knows where we are going to end up but we have already paid a high price for this Brexit stupidity.

Edited May 6, 20197 yr by dunroaming

20 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Not exactly.  The Labour MP's are not following party lines and nor are the Tories.  Both parties are split with many Labour MP's trying to force Corbyn to demand a second referendum as part of any agreement.  Likewise many Tories are spitting blood because of May's talks with the enemy and have said they will vote against any agreement made with Corbyn.  The rebellion by both camps jeopardise any agreement getting through parliament which leaves us where we have been all along.  Nobody knows where we are going to end up but we have already paid a high price for this Brexit stupidity.

Exactly... these talk are an attempt by both parties to stitch the other up, certainly not meaningful or sincere.

 

Even if they could agree they will still have to get 321 MP's from both parties to vote with them.

 

That will be like herding cats... 

16 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Not exactly.  The Labour MP's are not following party lines and nor are the Tories.  Both parties are split with many Labour MP's trying to force Corbyn to demand a second referendum as part of any agreement.  Likewise many Tories are spitting blood because of May's talks with the enemy and have said they will vote against any agreement made with Corbyn.  The rebellion by both camps jeopardise any agreement getting through parliament which leaves us where we have been all along.  Nobody knows where we are going to end up but we have already paid a high price for this Brexit stupidity.

This is closer to the reality, both parties are split. Corbyn's vile puppet master Seumas Milne (Winchester and Oxford, a true Toff Trot and Putin apologist) the man they call "Corbyn's Brain", (He probably found the empty space pretty easy to fill) is rabidly anti EU, and with his puppet, imagine that being out of the EU will lead directly to a Socialist Utopia*. LP members and MPs are overwhelmingly remain, but the Stalinist purges have reduced their ranks. It looks like May and Corbyn will do anything they can to get a deal passed, as both are Europhobes and neither want a 2nd referendum. This is the concerning thing, now every poll shows Remain clearly ahead, the Leaders may conspire to sidestep what is now clearly the will of the people. (No irony intended!).

As divorced from reality as Leavers are (By and large) I can understand how they feel. 

 

* Britain will never vote for this, like it or not.

N/g..

Polls mean nothing..here are 2 examples

7 days before the indyref re scotland/independance..the msm etc were giving it that the latest polls showed that soapy salmond's wish was in the bag.
I walked into my local Willie Hills and put a nice wedge on scotland remaining.part of thr UK...Think I got 5/4 the odds.
EASY MONEY

I did the same re UK leaving the EU and lifted from Willie Hill.a nice bit of pay..7/2 the odds..
Polls are as much use as a snowball in the hades of hell imo.
Have a nice day.

This is closer to the reality, both parties are split. Corbyn's vile puppet master Seumas Milne (Winchester and Oxford, a true Toff Trot and Putin apologist) the man they call "Corbyn's Brain", (He probably found the empty space pretty easy to fill) is rabidly anti EU, and with his puppet, imagine that being out of the EU will lead directly to a Socialist Utopia*. LP members and MPs are overwhelmingly remain, but the Stalinist purges have reduced their ranks. It looks like May and Corbyn will do anything they can to get a deal passed, as both are Europhobes and neither want a 2nd referendum. This is the concerning thing, now every poll shows Remain clearly ahead, the Leaders may conspire to sidestep what is now clearly the will of the people. (No irony intended!).
As divorced from reality as Leavers are (By and large) I can understand how they feel. 
 
* Britain will never vote for this, like it or not.

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

It does seem that the most practical way forward would be to revoke article 50 and then start again.  A general election to hopefully sort out the dross and then with a new team go back to the EU and negotiate hard to establish exactly what we could achieve as far as deals are concerned including ways around the Irish issue.  THEN (god help us) hold a referendum with all the facts, on the understanding that it will be an in or out with no second bites of the cherry.  That way people would know what they were voting for but more to the point what would be delivered.

 

Doubt any of that will happen though.

It does seem that the most practical way forward would be to revoke article 50 and then start again.  A general election to hopefully sort out the dross and then with a new team go back to the EU and negotiate hard to establish exactly what we could achieve as far as deals are concerned including ways around the Irish issue.  THEN (god help us) hold a referendum with all the facts, on the understanding that it will be an in or out with no second bites of the cherry.  That way people would know what they were voting for but more to the point what would be delivered.
 
Doubt any of that will happen though.

Got it in 1..no chance

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

You are right.  No chance of a sensible option from this shower of incompetents who are only interested in saving their sorry a*ses.

1 hour ago, Nigel Garvie said:

It looks like May and Corbyn will do anything they can to get a deal passed, as both are Europhobes and neither want a 2nd referendum. This is the concerning thing, now every poll shows Remain clearly ahead, the Leaders may conspire to sidestep what is now clearly the will of the people.

Exactly...

 

Is not Democracy the wishes of the people in real time...

 

Seems there are some people who think that if you pay for a boat trip and when you get on the boat then see the boat filling with water, with insufficient life preservers for those on board you are not allowed to change your mind and get off... 

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

It does seem that the most practical way forward would be to revoke article 50 and then start again.  A general election to hopefully sort out the dross and then with a new team go back to the EU and negotiate hard to establish exactly what we could achieve as far as deals are concerned including ways around the Irish issue.  THEN (god help us) hold a referendum with all the facts, on the understanding that it will be an in or out with no second bites of the cherry.  That way people would know what they were voting for but more to the point what would be delivered.

 

Doubt any of that will happen though.

Article 50 will be revoked, when??? maybe not even this year, next year or even before a General election in 3 years time, but it will be...

 

There will not be a general election before May 2022 while there are over 216 Tory MP's, That would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. 

 

 

Edited May 6, 20197 yr by Basil B

40 minutes ago, Basil B said:

Exactly...

 

Is not Democracy the wishes of the people in real time...

 

Seems there are some people who think that if you pay for a boat trip and when you get on the boat then see the boat filling with water, with insufficient life preservers for those on board you are not allowed to change your mind and get off... 

The return of Project Fear ???? (in real time of course).

34 minutes ago, nauseus said:

The return of Project Fear ???? (in real time of course).

Where's the fear in suggesting that views have changed, unless you are a Brexiteer of course.

2 hours ago, malagateddy said:

N/g..

Polls mean nothing..here are 2 examples

7 days before the indyref re scotland/independance..the msm etc were giving it that the latest polls showed that soapy salmond's wish was in the bag.
I walked into my local Willie Hills and put a nice wedge on scotland remaining.part of thr UK...Think I got 5/4 the odds.
EASY MONEY

I did the same re UK leaving the EU and lifted from Willie Hill.a nice bit of pay..7/2 the odds..
Polls are as much use as a snowball in the hades of hell imo.
Have a nice day.

 

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
Po

 

So polls mean nothing...

 

Was not the 2016 referendum a poll???

2 minutes ago, Basil B said:

Where's the fear in suggesting that views have changed, unless you are a Brexiteer of course.

You are suggest a fearful boat trip on a boat that sinks and has no safety devices. Typical Project Fear speak. 

 

But the boat would be fine if we had a decent captain. 

1 hour ago, nauseus said:

The return of Project Fear ???? (in real time of course).

Oh no! Surely not dragging out the old "Project Fear" again ????

So polls mean nothing...
 
Was not the 2016 referendum a poll???

No..it was the real thing..polls conducted by eg..abc company will ask perhaps 1000 people this/that..then publish the result.
Sorry if you are dissapointed

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

32 minutes ago, nauseus said:

You are suggest a fearful boat trip on a boat that sinks and has no safety devices. Typical Project Fear speak. 

 

But the boat would be fine if we had a decent captain. 

Only if the boat was going to a destination that existed.  The best captain in the world can't take you to La La Land because it doesn't exist.

36 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Oh no! Surely not dragging out the old "Project Fear" again ????

Remainers have had it out of the bottom drawer for 3 years already.

21 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Only if the boat was going to a destination that existed.  The best captain in the world can't take you to La La Land because it doesn't exist.

The destination exists to anyone who is not consumed and deafened by the EU and all its noise.