Theresa May reaches out to unions and Labour MPs in unprecedented bid to force deal through
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has launched a fresh bid to secure support for her Brexit deal by reaching out to trade unions and Labour MPs.
The prime minister spoke to union bosses on Thursday and signalled that she will accept a Labour backbench amendment to secure workers rights after Brexit.
The amendment was tabled by John Mann, Caroline Flint and Gareth Snell. Mr Mann said the government's support would be "significant" and would make the proposed withdrawal agreement "more attractive".
Ms May's calls with union leaders appeared to have had little impact. Speaking after a call with the prime minister, GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: "I represent 620,000 working people and it’s about time their voices were heard. After nearly three years I’m glad the prime minister finally picked up the phone.
"As you would expect, I was very clear about GMB’s position - the deal on the table isn’t good enough and non-binding assurances on workers' rights won’t cut it."
Earlier, Jeremy Corbyn delivered a major speech on Brexit and called for Ms May to hold a general election to heal the divisions caused by Brexit.
As it happened...
Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit speech in Wakefield is about to get underway....
Jeremy Corbyn says the biggest division in the UK isn't over Brexit but between the many and the few.
He says:
"Years of Tory failure have left our society more divided than ever: poverty is growing, homelessness is up, personal debt is rising and crime is up too.
The truth is, the real divide in our country is not between those who voted to Remain in the EU and those who voted to Leave. It is between the many - who do the work, who create the wealth and pay their taxes, and the few - who set the rules, who reap the rewards and so often dodge taxes."
Jeremy Corbyn demands Theresa May call a general election, saying:
"I say to Theresa May: if you are so confident in your deal then call that election and let the people decide.
If not, Labour will table a motion of no confidence in the government at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success.
Clearly, Labour does not have enough MPs in parliament to win a confidence vote on its own.
So members across the House should vote with us to break the deadlock.
This paralysis cannot continue. Uncertainty is putting people’s jobs and livelihoods at risk.
And if a general election cannot be secured then we will keep all options on the table, including the option of campaigning for a public vote.
But an election must be the priority. It is not only the most practical option, it is also the most democratic option."
Jeremy Corbyn appears to hit out at Sajid Javid, the home secretary, saying ministers exploited "bigotry and racism" in their response to refugees trying to cross the Channel.
He says:
"I know many people were appalled at the bigotry and racism that some politicians stoked during the referendum campaign and are still trying to exploit out of the small number of desperate refugees risking their lives to cross the English Channel.
Let’s never forget that whatever circumstances people are living in whether in tents camps or trying to survive on dangerous dinghies, everyone is a human being and we must reach out the hand of humanity in all circumstances."
Jeremy Corbyn wraps up by saying Leavers and Remainers face many of the same issues:
"We will bring people together by addressing the deep-seated and common problems across our country and fulfilling the aspirations that led people to vote both leave or remain.
I would put it like this: if you’re living in Tottenham you may well have voted to Remain.
You’ve got high bills rising debts. You’re in insecure work. You struggle to make your wages stretch and you may be on universal credit, and forced to access food banks.
You’re up against it.
If you’re living in Mansfield, you are more likely to have voted to Leave.
You’ve got high bills, rising debts, you’re in insecure work, you struggle to make your wages stretch and you may be on universal credit and forced to access food banks.
You’re up against it.
But you’re not against each other."
Jeremy Corbyn dismisses the government's potential support for a Labour backbench Brexit amendment to protect workers' rights.
He says trade unions have made clear that the motion "simply
doesn't guarantee the protections that we are seeking".
Asked if he agrees with Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, that Article 50 may need to be extended to allow for further negotiations, the Labour leader appears to suggest that yes, he does.
He says that if Labour entered office "there would need to be time for that negotiation" and that Sir Keir was "reflecting the practicalities of how that negotiation would be undertaken".
Corbyn is pressed again on Sir Keir Starmer's comments on extending Article 50.
He says:
"There is no split on this: Keir and I are here together today. He made clear the practicalities of negotiating - that an extension would be a possibility because clearly there has to be time to negotiating."
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