Jeremy Corbyn will tell the EU’s chief negotiator that a “no-deal” Brexit is not acceptable as he seeks to break the impasse in negotiations. The Labour leader is travelling to Brussels for meetings with Michel Barnier, alongside Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary.
Sky News reports that Mr Corbyn’s visit will be 24 hours after his rousing conference speech, where he told party members Labour will vote against Mrs May’s Chequers plan as it stands and will oppose a no-deal Brexit.
While closing the Labour conference on Wednesday, Jeremy Corbyn appealed to his partyto end its bitter internal divisions and focus instead on a “radical” transformation of Britain’s “broken” economic system. Corbyn also tried to bridge the party’s yawning divide over Brexit, hinting that, if there were to be a second referendum, it could include the option to stay in the EU — an outcome favoured by the vast majority of his activists.
The Labour leader had said: “With just weeks of negotiating time left, it’s clear that UK-EU Brexit talks are in a perilous state. “Time is running out and companies are losing patience with the absence of any clarity from the government.
“Crashing out of Europe with no deal risks being a national disaster.” In Mr Corbyn’s conference speech, he also confirmed Labour will call for a general election if parliament votes down the deal Mrs May brings back from the EU.
The Guardian, this morning encapsulates the message in a clear headline “Get a good deal or face Labour veto”.
Meanwhile, The Financial Times, reports that the EU is making plans to pass emergency rule changes to cope with a no-deal Brexitin as little as five days, a fast-track process that allows the EU to leave big decisions on contingency measures until a late stage. The European Commission’s accelerated method for passing the legal acts, which was explained to member states on Wednesday, will permit the EU to prepare for a worst-case scenario without undermining negotiations with the UK on a withdrawal deal.
