Brexit latest: Cross-party talks to resume as Theresa May faces fresh pressure to quit

Renewed attempt to break the deadlock in parliament comes as prime minister faces new challenge from Tory MPs and grassroots activists

Brexit negotiations between the government and Labour will resume on Tuesday as Theresa May launches a fresh bid to break the deadlock in parliament and quash new attempts to oust her from office.

The prime minister’s deputy, David Lidington, and the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, will lead talks with Labour shadow ministers, including shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, in a new effort to find a cross-party solution to the current crisis.

They will be joined by government chief whip Julian Smith and Ms May’s chief of staff, Gavin Barwell.

The two negotiating teams have also set up working groups to consider the different elements of the relationship between the EU and UK after Brexit. Mr Barclay and Sir Keir will take part in a meeting of the security working group on Tuesday.

The talks have so far failed to end the impasse, with a major sticking point being the government’s refusal to agree to Labour’s demand for a permanent customs union with the EU.

Last week, Jeremy Corbyn‘s spokesman admitted there remained “substantial differences” and that the two sides were still “a long way” apart.

Ms May has said that if the two parties cannot agree on a way forward, they will instead propose a series of options for MPs to vote on. She has insisted that the government “stands ready to abide by” whatever the Commons decides, providing Labour does that same.

The talks will resume as the prime minister faces fresh pressure to step down after being forced to request a further delay to Brexit.

The 1922 Committee that represents backbench Conservative MPs will meet on Tuesday to discuss calls for party rules to be changed to allow another vote of no confidence in her leadership. Under the current rules, such a vote can only take place once a year. Ms May saw off an attempt to topple her last December, meaning another vote cannot currently be held until the end of the year.

The prime minister is also facing pressure from the party grassroots, with reports suggesting that 70 local Conservative association leaders have signed a petition calling for an extraordinary general meeting of the National Conservative Convention to discuss the her leadership of the party. Under party rules, only 65 signatures are needed to trigger an emergency meeting.

While a vote at the meeting would not be binding, an expression of no confidence in Ms May would pile pressure on the 1922 Committee to find a way to oust her.

Dinah Glover, the chair of London East Area Conservatives, who has organised the petition, told The Telegraph: “I am extremely sad that we have had to organise this petition to ask Mrs May to consider her position but it has become increasingly obvious over the last year that she has become the block to Brexit rather the solution.

“Chairmen have signed the petition because they fear Brexit will not be delivered under her leadership.

She added: “We need a prime minister who believes in the benefits that Brexit can bring to our country to lead us in the negotiations and out of the EU.

“That is the only solution which can satisfy our party and the British people. Enough is enough.”

The race to succeed Ms May is already well underway as prospective candidates vie for position and seek to bolster their campaigns.

A new survey of Tory members by the ConservativeHome website suggested Boris Johnson is currently in pole position among the party membership.

The former foreign secretary is backed by 32.4 per cent of members, giving him a commanding leave over fellow Eurosceptic Dominic Raab, the former Brexit secretary, who is in second place with 14.7 per cent of support.

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, came third, ahead of Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, and Sajid Javid, the home secretary.