Tony Blair says Jeremy Corbyn was wrong to snub Theresa May’s offer of Brexit talks

Jeremy Corbyn gives a speech in Hastings
Sky News
Kate Proctor17 January 2019
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Tony Blair today said that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was wrong to snub the Prime Minister’s offer of Brexit talks in a “moment of national crisis”.

Mr Corbyn has refused to meet with Theresa May at Downing Street to discuss a way forward unless she agrees to rule out a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If, in a moment of national crisis, the Prime Minister asks the Leader of the Opposition to come and talk, of course he should.”

In a speech in Hastings today, Mr Corbyn was set to describe Mrs May’s offer of talks as a “stunt” and not a serious attempt to engage with the “new reality” of Parliament after her Brexit proposals suffered a historic defeat.

Tony Blair said Jeremy Corbyn was wrong to snub Theresa May
PA

He was expected to say: “I am always prepared to talk. My phone is on. But the starting point for any talks about Brexit must be that the threat of a disastrous no-deal outcome is ruled out.”

At Labour’s party conference in September, Mr Corbyn said he would back the Prime Minister on Brexit if she backed a customs union.

Angela Smith MP, who is backing the campaign for a second referendum alongside 70 of her Labour colleagues, said she was disappointed Mr Corbyn had not taken up Mrs May’s offer.

She said: “It is a mistake for [him] to put barriers in the way of cross-party talks on the most important issue facing us at the moment. We are not going to get anywhere with this approach.”

Mr Corbyn’s decision will play into the hands of his critics who believe he is trying to put off making a decision on supporting a second referendum. If he backs a People’s Vote he may risk alienating Leave voters in Labour heartlands. Labour MP Mike Gapes tweeted: “Apparently Corbyn is prepared to hold talks with Hamas, Hezbollah, Assad and Iran without preconditions. But not with the UK Prime Minister. Why?”

Last night Mrs May survived a vote of no confidence called by Labour and said she was disappointed its leader had not wanted to meet her to discuss Brexit.

However, a senior Labour source said: “I see no point in him communicating with Theresa May. What’s the point in having talks with someone who has waited two years, and is still failing to understand this issue?”

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas had face-to-face talks with Mrs May this morning. She said: “Mrs May repeated her argument that the only way to take no deal off the table was by passing the deal. I believe keeping no deal on the table is a way to try to blackmail MPs and would be catastrophic for the country.”

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