Brexit: Prime Minister asks Corbyn to help break deadlock

Theresa May will ask the EU for an extension to the Brexit deadline to “break the logjam” in Parliament.

The Prime Minister says she wants to meet Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to agree a plan on the future relationship with the EU.

But she insisted her withdrawal agreement – which was voted down last week would remain part of the deal.

Mr Corbyn said he was “very happy” to meet Mrs May, and would ensure plans for a customs union and protection of workers’ rights were on the table.

The cross-party talks offer has angered Tory Brexiteers, with Boris Johnson accusing ministers of “entrusting the final handling of Brexit to Labour”.

The Former Foreign Secretary said Brexit was “becoming soft to the point of disintegration” and he could never agree with staying in a customs union.

BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said it probably means the prime minister is likely to adopt a closer relationship with the EU – a softer Brexit – than she had agreed so far.

The UK has until 12 April to propose a plan to the EU which must be accepted by them or it will leave without a deal.

Mrs May agreed a deal with the EU in November 2018, but it has been voted down twice in Parliament by huge margins, and a separate deal just on the withdrawal agreement section lost by 58 votes on Friday.

MPs have also twice held indicative votes to try to find a consensus, but none of the proposals won a majority.

source bbc