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.
This is a difficult time for everyone, passions are running high on both sides, she says.
Insisting that any resolution should take the UK out of the EU by May 22, Ms
May says: "This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands and it will
require national unity to deliver the national interest."
And that's it.
Nick Boles, who quit the Conservatives last night after MPs rejected alternatives to the government's Brexit deal, has welcomed Theresa May's statement:
Boles said yesterday that he could not longer sit with the Tories because the party had "shown itself to be incapable of compromise".
The president of the European Council has appealed for patience on Brexit following Theresa May's Downing Street statement. Is this a hint the EU could grant the PM a request to delay next week's departure date?
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon has accused Theresa May of "kicking the can" and offering no real solution to the Brexit log jam.
We're expecting a response to May's statement from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn within a few minutes.
Today's marathon cabinet meeting passed without any threats of ministerial resignations, according to The Sun's political editor. Whether Theresa May will see out the rest of the day with her cabinet intact remains to be seen.
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable has reacted to Theresa May's statement with scepticism, and another log jam metaphor:
The Institute of Directors, which represents business leaders, has welcomed the PM's statement as a "step towards compromise" but warns "there are still many obstacles on the path ahead".
Edwin Morgan, the institute's interim director general, added:
There was a clear indication of how the Government sees the next steps unfolding but time is of the essence and the outcome of all this is still far from clear.
The brinkmanship has gone on for far too long and business leaders want our politicians to put an end to this miserable uncertainty.
We urge the Leader of the Opposition to work with the Prime Minister to find a solution. Both sides must play ball.
Labour MP Anna Turley, a leading supporter of the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum, has suggested Theresa May is "trying to dip Jeremy Corbyn's hands into the mess of Brexit" by offering talks.
She also said "a deal based on a backroom pact between the government and the opposition would simply be a stitch-up that left the people behind".
Ms Turley added: "Any extension to the Brexit deadline and consideration of other forms of Brexit must be inclusive of all those MPs and voters who say a final deal should be signed off by the people.
"The public will not stand for a Westminster stitch-up. Nor will any deal that was cobbled together in a hurry to meet another artificial deadline command a stable majority in either Parliament or the country for long. It would be a bad deal for Britain if it was made in haste for the wrong reasons."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments