BREXIT talks between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn broke down after Labour accused the Tories of failing to offer any “real change or compromise”.
According to a spokesman for the Opposition, the Prime Minister, who infuriated her party when she asked for negotiations with Labour, was unwilling to actually negotiate with Labour.
Corbyn's spokesman said: “We are disappointed that the government has not offered real change or compromise.
READ MORE: May has asked for ANOTHER Brexit extension and the FM's not happy
“We urge the Prime Minister to come forward with genuine changes to her deal in an effort to find an alternative that can win support in Parliament and bring the country together.”
On Tuesday night, in an unexpected development, May, in a statement from Downing Street, offered to “sit down with the leader of the Opposition and try to agree a plan that we would both would stick to, to ensure that we leave the European Union and that we do so with a deal.”
She said any joint plan would have to “agree the current Withdrawal Agreement” and “focus on... our future relationship with the EU".
That suggested the Prime Minister was willing to reopen the Political Declaration, the document setting out the sort of agreement the UK would like to have with Europe after Brexit – Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has repeatedly said there is a openness in Brussels to “rework the Political Declaration”.
But Keir Starmer, Labour’s Brexit secretary, said that wasn't the case. He said the government weren’t willing to consider “any changes to the actual wording of the Political Declaration".
According to Sky News, Number 10 had instead offered a clarificatory memorandum about how the Government interprets the Political Declaration.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was exasperated if unsurprised: “This is similar to when I met PM on Wednesday.
“She wanted to know where we could compromise, but refused to indicate any compromise she might make.
“It is a bizarre approach from someone who made great play of wanting to find consensus – and has just wasted yet more time.”
Scottish Brexit Secretary Micahel Russell expressed a similar level of shock.
"This should surprise no one – it has been exactly the same during the entire last two and a half years of negotiation and discussion within the Joint Ministerial Committee. All the power held by her and no compromise offered by her," he tweeted.
This should surprise no one - it has been exactly the same during the entire last two and a half years of negotiation and discussion within the Joint Ministerial Committee. All
— Michael Russell (@Feorlean) April 5, 2019
the power held by her and no compromise offered by her. https://t.co/Xcm99w9D2S
Downing Street, however, has said that it is still considering alterations to the political declaration.
A Government spokesman said: "We have made serious proposals in talks this week, and are prepared to pursue changes to the political declaration in order to deliver a deal that is acceptable to both sides.
"We are ready to hold further detailed discussions this weekend in order to seek any such changes in the run up to European Council on Wednesday.
"The Government is determined to work constructively to deliver the Brexit people voted for, and avoid participation in the European Parliamentary elections."
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