Brexit: Theresa May vows to delay EU departure to secure a deal and reaches out to Jeremy Corbyn
Follow our live coverage of the day’s political events
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has reached out to Jeremy Corbyn to find a way through the Brexit deadlock as she vowed to delay the UK’s exit to secure a deal.
In a statement from Downing Street, Ms May said: “This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands and it will require national unity to deliver the national interest.’’
Mr Corbyn, the Labour leader, said he was “very happy” to meet the prime minister to discuss a way forward.
It comes after Ms May gathered her cabinet for seven-hour crisis talks after MPs once again failed to unite around any Brexit option during a late-night session of indicative votes.
Recap our coverage of the day's developments
Despite Ms May’s departure plan having been rejected by MPs three times in the House of Commons, it is believed she may try to put it to the house for a fourth time.
The meetings come amid growing speculation the prime minister could call a snap general election if a fourth attempt to pass her deal fails.
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has been allowed to escape from the cabinet meeting to attend departmental questions in the Commons.
Needless to say, he's thrilled to get away.
Bit of speculation here about whether the PM brings back her deal for a third time - and whether John Bercow, the Speaker, will allow it.
Nick Boles quit the Tories over Brexit – and now the party is in open civil war, writes Independent commentator John Rentoul.
NEW: A cross-party move to rule out a no-deal Brexit has been table by Labour's Yvette Cooper and Tory grandee Oliver Letwin. It's pretty techy, but the crux is this is an attempt to stop the UK crashing out of the EU on 12 April.
Letwin won the chance to control the parliamentary agenda on several days - which he used to call indicative votes. But as MPs couldn't agree, he is now focusing instead on bringing forward this bill.
If the PM refuses to seek an extension of Article 50, this bill would require her to do so.
Ms Cooper said: “We are now in a really dangerous situation with a serious and growing risk of No Deal in 10 days’ time.
“The Prime Minister has a responsibility to prevent that happening. She needs to put forward a proposal, including saying how long an extension she thinks we need to sort things out.
“If the Government won’t act urgently, then Parliament has a responsibility to try to ensure that happens even though we are right up against the deadline."
Letwin said: "This is a last-ditch attempt to prevent our country being exposed to the risks inherent in a no deal exit. We realise this is difficult. But it is definitely worth trying.”
MPs will make a fresh attempt to compel Theresa May to delay Brexit further by passing legislation on Thursday, a cross-party alliance has announced.
A bill – designed to clear the Commons in a single day – would prevent a “drift into no-deal by accident in just 10 days’ time”, its supporters say.
The move will delay a further round of “indicative votes”, following the failure to reach a consensus on Monday night, raising the threat of a crash-out Brexit.
Read our piece here:
What will happen next after MPs rejected all of the alternatives to Theresa May's Brexit deal? Here's your handy guide to what it means for Brexit, Theresa May and prospects of a general election...
John Bercow, the House of Commons speaker, has confirmed that he would allow Yvette Cooper's bill ruling out a no-deal Brexit to be debated and passed in one day.
Mr Bercow said it was "not disorderly" for all of the stages of the bill - which would normally be spread out over several months - to be held on Thursday, as per Ms Cooper's plan. Britain is currently on course to leave the EU without a deal next Friday.
One consequence of the backbenchers' plan to introduce the bill this week is that there may not be time for Theresa May to try to hold a fourth vote on her Brexit deal. It was thought that such a vote could take place on Wednesday or Thursday, but that would be difficult if backbenchers succeed in seizing the Commons agenda to pass the Cooper bill.
Veteran Conservative Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash has criticised attempts to pass Yvette Cooper's bill on a no-deal Brexit in one day, telling the commons:
"This is a reprehensible procedure in the context of this vitally important issue of our leaving the European Union. It is unconstitutional. It is inconceivable that we should be presented with a bill which could be rammed through in one day."
Former Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt has told BBC Radio 4's World At One that a no-deal Brexit would be "extremely damaging for the UK".
He continued: "A no deal, the prime minister has very much set herself against that.
"I was one of the ministers who quite specifically asked for advice as to whether the UK would be less safe and less secure if there was no deal.
"That information needs to be available to ministers as they make a decision and my understanding is the cabinet secretary's view of no deal is it is extremely damaging to the UK and I would hope that will pull many ministers away from that idea.
"So we must find an alternative and I am very willing to keep trying on that."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments