Talks between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn to break the Brexit deadlock have been called “constructive”.
The two leaders met on Wednesday afternoon and agreed a “programme of work” to try to find a way forward to put to MPs for a vote.
It is understood that each party has appointed a negotiating team, which are meeting tonight before a full day of discussions on Thursday.
A spokesman for No 10 said both sides were “showing flexibility”.
And he added that the two parties gave “a commitment to bring the current Brexit uncertainty to a close”.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Corbyn said there had not been “as much change as [he] had expected” in the PM’s position.
He said the meeting was “useful, but inconclusive”, and talks would continue.
This evening, MPs have debated legislation which would require Mrs May to seek an extension to Article 50 and give the Commons the power to approve or amend whatever was agreed.
The bill passed its first parliamentary hurdle by 315 to 310 votes, and MPs are now voting on a raft of amendments.
Supporters of the bill, tabled by Labour’s Yvette Cooper, are trying to fast-track the bill through the Commons in the space of five hours, in a move which has angered Tory Brexiteers.
- Kuenssberg: PM chooses a deal over party unity
- Carney: No deal risk ‘alarmingly high’
- Brexitcast: Theresa’s Choice
- We must leave the EU, says attorney general
Mr Corbyn said he raised a number of issues with Mrs May, including future customs arrangements, trade agreements and the option of giving the public the final say over the deal in another referendum.
The Labour leader is coming under pressure from senior colleagues to make a referendum a condition of signing up to any agreement.
Demanding the shadow cabinet hold a vote on the issue, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry said not backing a confirmatory vote would be a “breach” of the policy agreed by party members at its last conference.
The UK has until 12 April to propose a plan to the EU – which must be accepted by the bloc – or it will leave without a deal on that date.
The PM proposed the talks in a statement on Tuesday night. She wants to agree a policy with the Labour leader for MPs to vote on before 10 April – when the EU will hold an emergency summit on Brexit.
If there is no agreement between the two leaders, Mrs May said a number of options would be put to MPs “to determine which course to pursue”.
In either event, Mrs May said she would ask the EU for a further short extension to hopefully get an agreement passed by Parliament before 22 May, so the UK does not have to take part in European elections.
Please upgrade your browser
Your guide to Brexit jargon
Use the list below or select a button
The two leaders also met Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The SNP leader said she had “good” and “open” conversations with both, and while she believed Mr Corbyn would “drive a hard bargain”, she was “still not entirely clear” where the prime minister was willing to compromise.
The SNP leader, who backs a further referendum and wants to remain in the EU, told reporters: “My concern is that in the rush to reach some compromise with the clock ticking, what will happen over the next few days… is a bad compromise will be reached.”
The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Plaid Cymru and the Independent Group have also held a joint press conference, calling for any decision made by the leaders to be put to a public vote.
But some Tory Brexiteers have condemned the talks, with two ministers resigning over the issue.
Chris Heaton-Harris quit on Wednesday afternoon, claiming his job at the Department for Exiting the European Union had become “irrelevant” if the government is not prepared to leave without a deal.
Wales Minister Nigel Adams also resigned earlier, saying the government was at risk of failing to deliver “the Brexit people voted for”.
Comments