This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/18/jeremy-corbyn-to-meet-top-eu-brexit-negotiator-michel-barnier-in-brussels
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Corbyn to meet top EU Brexit negotiator Barnier in Brussels | Jeremy Corbyn to meet top EU Brexit negotiator Barnier in Brussels |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Labour leader says his party ‘stands ready to take up responsibility’ for the talks as he prepares to meet three EU PMs | |
| Heather Stewart Political editor | |
| Wed 18 Oct 2017 22.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 15.13 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Jeremy Corbyn will meet the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, in Brussels on Thursday, as he seeks to exploit Tory division over Brexit and present Labour as a better negotiating team. | Jeremy Corbyn will meet the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, in Brussels on Thursday, as he seeks to exploit Tory division over Brexit and present Labour as a better negotiating team. |
| As well as Barnier, Corbyn will hold bilateral meetings with three EU prime ministers, as Britain’s negotiating partners try to gauge the balance of power over Brexit. | As well as Barnier, Corbyn will hold bilateral meetings with three EU prime ministers, as Britain’s negotiating partners try to gauge the balance of power over Brexit. |
| Corbyn, who will be accompanied by the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, and the shadow international trade secretary, Barry Gardiner, said: “As the government’s splits and Brexit bungling become ever more damaging, Labour stands ready to take up responsibility for the Brexit negotiations.” | Corbyn, who will be accompanied by the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, and the shadow international trade secretary, Barry Gardiner, said: “As the government’s splits and Brexit bungling become ever more damaging, Labour stands ready to take up responsibility for the Brexit negotiations.” |
| Making reference to the chancellor, Philip Hammond’s comment that “the enemy” were in the EU, not at home – for which the chancellor subsequently apologised – Corbyn said: “Far from viewing the European Union as the enemy, Labour would conduct negotiations in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect with the aim of achieving a strong settlement for Britain and a new relationship with Europe.” | Making reference to the chancellor, Philip Hammond’s comment that “the enemy” were in the EU, not at home – for which the chancellor subsequently apologised – Corbyn said: “Far from viewing the European Union as the enemy, Labour would conduct negotiations in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect with the aim of achieving a strong settlement for Britain and a new relationship with Europe.” |
| He will meet the Portuguese, Italian and Swedish prime ministers, and the president of the European parliament, Antonio Tajani. | He will meet the Portuguese, Italian and Swedish prime ministers, and the president of the European parliament, Antonio Tajani. |
| Starmer held a series of meetings in Brussels on Wednesday, and Labour sources said several senior figures had expressed concerns about the clear divisions among Conservative MPs over the outlines of a future Brexit deal. | Starmer held a series of meetings in Brussels on Wednesday, and Labour sources said several senior figures had expressed concerns about the clear divisions among Conservative MPs over the outlines of a future Brexit deal. |
| Corbyn’s visit to Brussels came after pro-Brexit Tory MPs wrote to the Labour leader to accuse him of undermining Britain’s negotiating stance by refusing to back preparations for a no-deal outcome. | Corbyn’s visit to Brussels came after pro-Brexit Tory MPs wrote to the Labour leader to accuse him of undermining Britain’s negotiating stance by refusing to back preparations for a no-deal outcome. |
| Signed by 19 MPs, led by Suella Fernandes, chair of the backbench European Research Group, the letter says: “If we fail to take the necessary steps to prepare for our exit on all possible terms then we remove options that the UK can take, and allow a situation to arise where whatever deal the EU offer will have to be accepted because there is no alternative. Is this Labour’s policy?” | Signed by 19 MPs, led by Suella Fernandes, chair of the backbench European Research Group, the letter says: “If we fail to take the necessary steps to prepare for our exit on all possible terms then we remove options that the UK can take, and allow a situation to arise where whatever deal the EU offer will have to be accepted because there is no alternative. Is this Labour’s policy?” |
| It adds: “There are those in the EU for whom the sole priority in these negotiations is that they punish Britain. Your policy would give them strength.” | It adds: “There are those in the EU for whom the sole priority in these negotiations is that they punish Britain. Your policy would give them strength.” |
| Senior Labour figures including the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, have signalled that Labour would be prepared to cooperate with Conservative MPs to try to vote down a no-deal Brexit — though it is unclear whether parliament would be given a vote in that scenario. | Senior Labour figures including the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, have signalled that Labour would be prepared to cooperate with Conservative MPs to try to vote down a no-deal Brexit — though it is unclear whether parliament would be given a vote in that scenario. |
| Labour itself is divided about the kind of Brexit Britain should pursue. A campaign group within the party is arguing vociferously for Britain to remain permanently in the single market, which is not the shadow cabinet’s policy. | Labour itself is divided about the kind of Brexit Britain should pursue. A campaign group within the party is arguing vociferously for Britain to remain permanently in the single market, which is not the shadow cabinet’s policy. |
| Jeremy Corbyn | |
| Brexit | |
| European Union | |
| Foreign policy | |
| Labour | |
| Michel Barnier | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |