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Brexit: Labour's 'door is open' to DUP for talks | Brexit: Labour's 'door is open' to DUP for talks |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Labour has invited the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) for talks about amending crucial Brexit legislation. | |
MPs - including the DUP - voted on Saturday to withhold approval of a new Brexit deal until the necessary laws to implement it are passed. | |
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said his party's "door is open" to the DUP. | |
The taoiseach (Irish prime minister) said the EU would not make more concessions to help the government win the DUP's support for the Brexit deal. | |
"The deal is done," Leo Varadkar told Irish national broadcaster RTÉ on Sunday. | |
He said the UK would have to outline the reasons for requesting an extension to the 31 October Brexit deadline - whether the extra time would be used to hold a general election or another referendum. | |
'Open invite to DUP' | |
The government has vowed to move the legislation - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - to implement the Brexit deal next week. | |
Labour intends to table an amendment for a new referendum and the party has said its "door is open" to the DUP. | Labour intends to table an amendment for a new referendum and the party has said its "door is open" to the DUP. |
But the DUP has insisted it is not in favour of another public vote. | |
Sir Keir, the shadow Brexit secretary, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that any Brexit deal needed to be put to a referendum. | |
And he said his party would likely table other amendments to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill as well. | And he said his party would likely table other amendments to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill as well. |
The bill ensures all EU laws that need to be transferred into domestic UK legislation are implemented. | The bill ensures all EU laws that need to be transferred into domestic UK legislation are implemented. |
Asked if he was talking to the DUP, Sir Keir said: "I would openly invite the DUP talk to us." | Asked if he was talking to the DUP, Sir Keir said: "I would openly invite the DUP talk to us." |
"I say to the DUP in particular: if you want to work with us on this to improve the situation our door is open to that discussion." | "I say to the DUP in particular: if you want to work with us on this to improve the situation our door is open to that discussion." |
'PM fixated with Brexit deadline' | 'PM fixated with Brexit deadline' |
But East Antrim DUP MP Sammy Wilson said his party "does not seek a second referendum - merely implementation of the first". | But East Antrim DUP MP Sammy Wilson said his party "does not seek a second referendum - merely implementation of the first". |
He said the DUP's goal remained ensuring Northern Ireland and Great Britain left the EU as "one nation". | He said the DUP's goal remained ensuring Northern Ireland and Great Britain left the EU as "one nation". |
"If the prime minister remains willing to achieve that outcome he will find DUP MPs as willing partners in that project," he added. | "If the prime minister remains willing to achieve that outcome he will find DUP MPs as willing partners in that project," he added. |
Boris Johnson's Brexit deal | Boris Johnson's Brexit deal |
ANALYSIS: Chances of agreement still strong, says Laura Kuenssberg | ANALYSIS: Chances of agreement still strong, says Laura Kuenssberg |
IN BRIEF: What happened on Saturday? | IN BRIEF: What happened on Saturday? |
EXPLAINED: How another delay would work | EXPLAINED: How another delay would work |
IN GRAPHICS: What happens now? | IN GRAPHICS: What happens now? |
The DUP inflicted a blow on the prime minister on Saturday, with the votes of its 10 MPs for the so-called Letwin amendment ensuring a government defeat. | The DUP inflicted a blow on the prime minister on Saturday, with the votes of its 10 MPs for the so-called Letwin amendment ensuring a government defeat. |
The party's relationship with Prime Minister Boris Johnson has become strained since he negotiated a new Brexit deal with the EU that includes special customs arrangements for Northern Ireland. | The party's relationship with Prime Minister Boris Johnson has become strained since he negotiated a new Brexit deal with the EU that includes special customs arrangements for Northern Ireland. |
The DUP has rejected the plan and said the prime minister was "too eager" to get a deal at any cost in order to leave the EU by 31 October. | The DUP has rejected the plan and said the prime minister was "too eager" to get a deal at any cost in order to leave the EU by 31 October. |
After Saturday's vote, Mr Johnson sent a letter to the EU requesting a delay - under the terms of the so-called Benn Act - but ministers insist the UK will still leave the EU by the Halloween deadline. | After Saturday's vote, Mr Johnson sent a letter to the EU requesting a delay - under the terms of the so-called Benn Act - but ministers insist the UK will still leave the EU by the Halloween deadline. |
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly said Mr Johnson's "fixation" with leaving the EU by the 31 October meant he had "rushed the details" of his Brexit deal. | Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly said Mr Johnson's "fixation" with leaving the EU by the 31 October meant he had "rushed the details" of his Brexit deal. |
In response, Northern Ireland Office Minister Robin Walker said the government would continue to talk to the DUP and the independent unionist MP Lady Hermon about their concerns over the Brexit deal. | In response, Northern Ireland Office Minister Robin Walker said the government would continue to talk to the DUP and the independent unionist MP Lady Hermon about their concerns over the Brexit deal. |
Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith tweeted that he would "continue to fight for Northern Ireland interests" over Brexit. | Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith tweeted that he would "continue to fight for Northern Ireland interests" over Brexit. |
Also speaking on Sunday Politics, Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said he had warned the DUP that Mr Johnson would change his position on Northern Ireland and Brexit. | Also speaking on Sunday Politics, Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said he had warned the DUP that Mr Johnson would change his position on Northern Ireland and Brexit. |
"I predicted to them some months ago this was what was going to happen - I told them that Boris Johnson was going to betray them," he added. | "I predicted to them some months ago this was what was going to happen - I told them that Boris Johnson was going to betray them," he added. |
Mr Grieve, who had the Conservative whip withdrawn by Mr Johnson, said he thought the prime minister's deal questioned his unionist credentials. | Mr Grieve, who had the Conservative whip withdrawn by Mr Johnson, said he thought the prime minister's deal questioned his unionist credentials. |
Asked if the prime minister was a unionist, he said "No, I don't." | Asked if the prime minister was a unionist, he said "No, I don't." |