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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Corbyn to meet top EU Brexit negotiator Barnier in Brussels | Jeremy Corbyn to meet top EU Brexit negotiator Barnier in Brussels |
| (5 days later) | |
| Labour leader says his party ‘stands ready to take up responsibility’ for the talks as he prepares to meet three EU PMs | 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 | Heather Stewart Political editor |
| Wed 18 Oct 2017 22.00 BST | Wed 18 Oct 2017 22.00 BST |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 15.31 GMT | |
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| 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 | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| European Union | European Union |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Labour | Labour |
| Michel Barnier | Michel Barnier |
| news | news |
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