Prime Minister seeks Brexit consensus to break deadlock

#Brexit special section Westminster

Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will meet MPs over the next few days as she attempts to find a solution to the political impasse over Brexit.

She suffered a heavy Commons defeat in Tuesday’s vote on her withdrawal deal and survived a vote of no confidence in her government last night.

Now she has three days to come up with a ‘Plan B’ to put before MPs, as the clock ticks down to the UK’s departure from the EU on March 29.

The Government saw off Labour’s bid to win a no confidence vote by 325 votes to 306 last night.

Afterwards the Prime Minister called for constructive talks with opposition leaders that ‘put self-interest aside’ to find a way forward.

The Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru met her last night and she was due to meet Tory Brexiteers and the DUP today.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was the only one to decline the offer, saying he would not join talks until the option of a hard Brexit was off the table.

It was the DUP who secured victory for the government in last night’s no confidence vote

If their ten Westminster MPs has voted for Labour’s motion, it would have been carried by one vote.

Time is now against the Prime Minister and her government, as they must place a ‘Plan B’ for withdrawal from the EU in front of MPs by Monday.

She said it would not be an easy task but added: ” MPs know they have a duty to act in the national interest, reach a consensus and get this done.”

Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis refused to say if the Government will compromise on any of its Brexit ‘red lines’.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the Prime Minister would not agree to a customs union as part of any future deal.

Lewis also poured cold water on demands for a second Brexit referendum, saying it was ‘not the right way to go.’

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