by Oui
Mon Feb 11th, 2019 at 09:56:17 PM EST
A fatal last straw that will just anger her Brexiteers as all ideas slowly evaporate as in a mirage ...
(Image credit Financial Times)
○ Theresa May's Brexit overture to Labour is a high-risk move | Sky News |
With exit day looming, and the prospect of negotiating changes to the backstop still elusive, Theresa May has made an overture to Jeremy Corbyn.
In a conciliatory letter, the prime minister offered fresh talks, alongside concessions on workers' rights, the environment and even financial support for deprived communities, all designed to win over wavering Labour MPs to support her deal.
Depending on which newspaper you read, it is being interpreted either as Mrs May opening the door to a soft Brexit - at the risk of a cabinet split - or as a rejection of Jeremy Corbyn's proposals for a permanent customs union.
Brexit: EU's Barnier says customs union idea 'interesting' | DW |
The European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday appeared to welcome the idea of a customs union arrangement with Britain.
In a letter to May, UK opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn suggested a "permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union" with the EU.
Corbyn's suggestion appears to envisage Britain being part of a separate customs union, rather than part of the EU Customs Union (EUCU) itself. How this would be established or agreed upon in a matter of weeks is not clear.
The Labour leader envisages common external tariffs on goods from the rest of the world.
Continued below the fold ...
It also aims for Britain to have a say in future trade deals made by the EU.
Barnier's comments came ahead of a meeting with the UK's chief negotiator, Stephen Barclay, for an update on how British Prime Minister Theresa May intends to win parliamentary support for a withdrawal agreement.
[...]
However, May -- who has suggested talks to build more cross-party support for a withdrawal agreement -- appeared to dismiss Corbyn's proposal.
May said she would prefer an arrangement where Britain strikes its own independent trade deals, rather than having a say on those negotiated by the bloc.
Double-talk as stress level reaches feverish pitch ...
○ Theresa May 'not considering' Jeremy Corbyn's customs union plan on Brexit | Sky News |