Brexit news: Labour-Tory talks collapse with Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn blaming each other

Keir Starmer confirms Labour will vote against Brexit legislation without cross-party deal

Talks between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock have collapsed without an agreement.

Conservative whips had reportedly given up hope of reaching an agreement with Labour, while Mr Corbyn and the shadow cabinet had concerns about the durability of any deal due to Ms May's weak position.

But speaking on Friday, the prime minister blamed Labour division s over whether to demand a Final Say referendum for the failure of the talks.

As Ms May finally hit the campaign trail for the European elections - with just six days to go - she said: "In particular, we haven’t been able to overcome the fact that there isn’t a common position in Labour about whether they want to deliver Brexit, or hold a second referendum which could reverse it.”

But a Labour source hit back, pointing out Brexiteer cabinet ministers had also voiced “strident” opposition to a customs union, saying: “Ultimately, this is a prime minister that can’t govern and can’t deliver.”

Earlier, Mr Corbyn said: "We have been unable to bridge important policy gaps between us.”

It comes after the ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson declared his intention to replace Theresa May after she bowed to pressure to quit in the summer months and make way for a new Tory leader.

This liveblog has now closed - but you can follow Friday's events below

Key Points

• Cross-party talks collapse without agreement after six weeks 
• ...as both Corbyn and May blame each other for failing to reach agreement
• MPs set to be offered another chance to vote on Final Say referendum and no-deal Brexit
• Race to succeed Theresa May under way as Boris Johnson says he will run
• ... after PM says she will outline timetable after June Brexit vote

[17 May 2019 10:31 · Ashley Cowburn]

MPs could be offered the opportunity to vote on a second referendum and a no-deal Brexit in a series of “indicative votes” in the first week of June, according to a document leaked from cross-party talks, writes political editor Andrew Woodcock.

And the Government has offered to give Tory MPs a free vote on the Final Say option if Jeremy Corbyn will do the same for Labour.

[17 May 2019 10:41 · Ashley Cowburn]

Jeremy Corbyn has written to Theresa May effectively ending the cross-party Brexit talks, saying: "I am writing to let you know that I believe the talks between us about finding a compromise agreement on leaving the European Union have now gone as far as they can."

[17 May 2019 10:55 · Ashley Cowburn]

In his letter to Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn wrote:

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to let you know that I believe the talks between us about finding a compromise agreement on leaving the European Union have now gone as far as they can.

I would like to put on record that the talks have been conducted in good faith on both sides and thank those involved for their efforts to find common ground.

The talks have been detailed, constructive and have involved considerable effort for both our teams.

However, it has become clear that, while there are some areas where compromise has been possible, we have been unable to bridge important policy gaps between us.

Even more crucially, the increasing weakness and instability of your government means there cannot be confidence in securing whatever might be agreed between us.

As I said when we met on Tuesday evening, there has been growing concern in both the Shadow Cabinet and parliamentary Labour Party about the government's ability to deliver on any compromise agreement.

As you have been setting out your decision to stand down and Cabinet ministers are competing to succeed you, the position of the government has become ever more unstable and its authority eroded. Not infrequently, proposals by your negotiating team have been publicly contradicted by statements from other members of the Cabinet.

In recent days we have heard senior Cabinet ministers reject any form of customs union, regardless of proposals made by government negotiators. And despite assurances we have been given on protection of environmental, food and animal welfare standards, the International Trade Secretary has confirmed that importing chlorinated chicken as part of a US trade deal remains on the table.

After six weeks of talks, it is only right that the Government now wishes again to test the will of Parliament, and we will carefully consider any proposals the Government wishes to bring forward to break the Brexit deadlock.

However, I should reiterate that, without significant changes, we will continue to oppose the Government's deal as we do not believe it safeguards jobs, living standards and manufacturing industry in Britain.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Corbyn

[17 May 2019 11:10 · Ashley Cowburn]

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted there is a "real chance" for Scotland to stay part of the European Union. Speaking as she launched the SNP European election manifesto in Glasgow, the Scottish first minister said: "The Brexit chaos has to stop."

Ms Sturgeon said the vote on Thursday gave people "the opportunity to make Scotland's voice heard", adding: "There's now, in my view, a real chance to keep Scotland in the European Union."

With Theresa May having outlined plans to leave Downing Street, she added that the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming the next prime minister was now "a deadly serious possibility and for Scotland it would be a nightmare".

 "Faced with Brexit - and very possibly an extreme Farage-Johnson style Brexit - people in Scotland deserve the right to decide whether Scotland should become an independent member of the EU instead."

[17 May 2019 11:29 · Ashley Cowburn]

"The last time I was in the Sugar Hut, I watched a man arguing he shouldn’t be thrown out for throwing chewing gum in a barmaid’s hair. It was far more convincing than this," writes political sketch writer Tom Peck.

[17 May 2019 11:42 · Ashley Cowburn]

Asked about Labour's decision to call off Brexit talks with the Conservatives, Nigel Farage said today: "Jeremy Corbyn was never going to come to an agreement on this. Why would he help the Tory Party?

"I think more interesting is what Corbyn said last night about Labour's position on a second referendum. They are now 95% of the way towards being a second referendum party.

"Interestingly, the question they want to ask is a confirmatory referendum - and that would mean the existing European treaties or a new European treaty. And those of us that want to leave would have no one to vote for.

"That poses the Labour Party a massive problem in the Midlands, the North, and south Wales."

[17 May 2019 11:53 · Ashley Cowburn]

On the breakdown of the cross-party talks, the PM's official spokesman said: "We have made real progress on some issues such as workers' rights and environmental protections, but it is clear that we are not going to be able to reach a complete agreement.

"In particular there have been very challenging discussions in respect of the different positions of the two sides on customs and the holding of a second referendum.

"The PM continues to believe it is the duty of elected politicians to deliver on the result of the referendum.

"She continues to work hard on securing the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill so that the UK can leave the EU with a deal as soon as possible."

No further discussions are planned with the opposition, the prime minister's official spokesman confirmed.

"It was clear to the government last night that the talks were not going to reach a conclusion," the spokesman added.

[17 May 2019 12:16 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May has just been speaking in Bristol - and she appears to have finally launched the Conservatives' European election campaign. It was very short affair, unsurprisingly, and the PM took precisely one question from the press. 

Talking about the break-down in the cross party talks, Ms May also appeared to partly blame divisions in Labour over a second referendum for the negotiations breaking down. 

But she agrees with Jeremy Corbyn that the talks were "constructive", as she claims "progress" was made. She also warns that MPs will be "faced with a stark choice" when they vote on her critical Brexit legislation at the beginning of June.

[17 May 2019 12:34 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May has blamed Labour divisions over whether to demand a fresh Brexit referendum for the collapse of the cross-party talks, writes deputy political editor Rob Merrick.

Giving her reaction – as she finally hit the campaign trail for the European elections – the prime minister pinpointed the issue of giving the public the Final Say on any deal. Government sources are blaming Keir Starmer, the pro-referendum shadow

[17 May 2019 12:57 · Samuel Osborne]

Responding to Jeremy Corbyn's decision to walk away from Brexit talks, Theresa May said: "We have not been able to overcome the fact that there is not a common position in Labour about whether they want to deliver Brexit or hold a second referendum which could reverse it."

Ms May continued: "When we come to bring the legislation forward we will think carefully about what we've had with these talks, the outcome of these talks, we'll also consider whether we will have some votes to see if the ideas that have come through command a majority in the House of Commons.

"But when MPs come to vote on the Bill they will be faced with a stark choice: that is to vote to deliver on the referendum; to vote to deliver Brexit or to shy away again from delivering Brexit with all the uncertainty that that would leave."