Brexit latest: Tory Brexiteers accuse Theresa May of surrendering control as she offers to work with Jeremy Corbyn

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Tory Brexiteers have launched a scathing attack on Theresa May as they accused her of surrendering control of the UK's exit from the EU to the opposition.

Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg led the tirade against the Prime Minister after she offered fresh Brexit talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn following a cabinet showdown on Tuesday.

European Research Group (ERG) chairman Mr Rees-Mogg warned that history did not show success for leaders who tried to get policy through the Commons "on the back of opposition votes".

Speaking after a meeting about Theresa May's latest statement, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I think getting the support of a known Marxist is not likely to instil confidence in Conservatives.

Under fire: Theresa May offered to sit down with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for Brexit talks
PA

"This approach to Government is an unsuccessful one and it also lacks democratic legitimacy. People did not vote for a Corbyn-May coalition Government - they voted for a Conservative Government, which became a confidence and supply with the DUP.

"This is a deeply unsatisfactory approach - it's not in the interests of the country, it fails to deliver on the referendum result and history doesn't bode well for it."

Jacob Rees-Mogg criticised the PM for offering to meet the Labour leader for talks
EPA

Mr Rees-Mogg cited the examples of former leaders Robert Peel, who was forced to resign and split the Tory party, and Ramsay MacDonald, who was forced to resign after including opposition leaders in a cross-party national government.

But he claimed to still support Mrs May as prime minister and, although he "didn't whoop and holler with delight", neither did he expect "a glorious outcome" from her statement.

Mrs May said she will ask for a further extension to Brexit to "break the logjam" in Parliament over leaving the European Union.

Theresa May gives her Brexit statement inside 10 Downing Street (Jack Taylor/AP)
Jack Taylor

In a statement on Tuesday, the PM also said she wants to meet with Mr Corbyn to agree a plan on the future relationship with the EU.

The Labour leader has since said he would be "very happy" to meet with his Tory counterpart.

However, he threatened to call a vote of no confidence in the Government if it is unable to command a majority in support of an agreement.

Former Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson said it was “very disappointing” Mrs May has decided to entrust the handling of the UK’s exit from the EU to Mr Corbyn.

Boris Johnson: It's likely law making powers will be handed to Brussels 
PA

He tweeted: "It is very disappointing that the cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.

"It now seems all too likely that British trade policy and key law making powers will be handed over to Brussels - with no say for the UK.

"As it is, we now face the ridiculous possibility of being forced to contest the European elections more than three years after leaving the EU and having to agree to exit terms that in no way resemble what the people were promised when they voted to leave."

The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip added "under no circumstances" would he vote for a deal involving a customs union.

He tweeted: "The PM and cabinet have concluded that any deal is better than no deal, and this is truly a very bad deal indeed - one that leaves us being run by the EU.

"I can under no circumstances vote for a deal involving a customs union as I believe that does not deliver on the referendum."

The DUP accused Mrs May of sub-contracting out the future of Brexit to the Labour Party.

The party said Mrs May's lamentable handling of the Brexit negotiations was to blame for her failure to deliver a sensible Brexit deal.

In a statement, the DUP said: "The Prime Minister's lamentable handling of the negotiations with the EU means she has failed to deliver a sensible Brexit deal that works for all parts of the United Kingdom. That is why she has not been able to get it through Parliament.

"Her announcement therefore tonight comes as little surprise. Though it remains to be seen if sub-contracting out the future of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn, someone whom the Conservatives have demonised for four years, will end happily.

"We want the result of the referendum respected, and just as we joined the Common Market as one country we must leave the EU as one country.”

Deadlock: Jeremy Corbyn said he would be 'very happy' to meet the PM for Brexit talks
AFP/Getty Images

ERG member Andrew Rosindell said he was "shocked and dismayed" as he left the meeting.

Another ERG member, Simon Clarke, retweeted former foreign secretary Boris Johnson and commented "This is absolutely right from Boris Johnson. Tonight's statement is incredible".

Mrs May said any plan agreed would be put to the House of Commons ahead of the April 10 summit of the European Council.

But she said any move would have to support the current withdrawal agreement, which was voted down for the third time last week.

Speaking in 10 Downing Street after a marathon session of Cabinet lasting over seven hours, Mrs May said that any further delay to Brexit should be "as short as possible".

She said a bill to pave the way for departure would have to be in place by May 22 to ensure the UK did not have to take part in European Parliament elections.

Responding to the invite for talks, Mr Corbyn said: "We will meet the Prime Minister

"We recognise that she has made a move, I recognise my responsibility to represent the people that supported Labour in the last election and the people who didn't support Labour but nevertheless want certainty and security for their own future and that's the basis on which we will meet her and we will have those discussions.

"However people voted in the referendum in 2016, whether they voted remain or they voted leave, they didn't vote for lower living standards, they didn't vote to lose their jobs.

"And actually there's far more that unites people on both sides about the kind of society we can be than divides them."

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