May putting Brexit deal to vote in early June
MPs already saying they will reject revised plan
UK Prime Minister Theresa May will next month put her premiership on the line as she tries to force her Brexit deal through parliament, even as MPs across the divide said they would vote in down for a fourth time.
May told opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday night she would introduce legislation in the week of June 3 implementing the withdrawal agreement with or without his party's support.
The prime minister had promised to leave if the agreement is approved by MPs. She is under pressure from hard right Brexiteers in her party to outline a departure “roadmap”.
Parliament is not sitting on June 3, and with May in France for D-Day commemorations on June 6 a vote looks likely on June 4 or 5.
Labour and the Conservatives have been locked in talks for a month in an effort to find a way though the Brexit impasse. May has been seeking guarantees from Corbyn that his MPs would not sink the agreement.
The prime minister's move effectively placed a deadline on the cross-party talks.
"This evening the prime minister met the leader of the opposition in the House of Commons to make clear our determination to bring the talks to a conclusion and deliver on the referendum result to leave the EU," a Downing Street spokesman said.
In response, a Labour spokesperson said Corbyn had “raised doubts over the credibility of government commitments, following statements by Conservative MPs and cabinet ministers seeking to replace the prime minister”.
"Jeremy Corbyn made clear the need for further movement from the government, including on entrenchment of any commitments,” the spokesperson added.
“It is imperative we do so then if the UK is to leave the EU before the summer parliamentary recess,” a spokesman said.
"The prime minister's team agreed to bring back documentation and further proposals tomorrow."
Remain-supporting Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said they would vote down any agreement unless it had a second referendum attached.
“If the government were to put forward its deal tomorrow, however modified by the Labour party, we’ve made very clear we would support it, providing it is subject to a confirmatory referendum, so we are not in any sense blocking progress,” said Lib Dem leader Vince Cable.
The Scottish National Party also said its 35 MPs would vote against the bill.
“As is now beyond doubt, there is no such thing as a good Brexit. Any form of Brexit would destroy thousands of Scottish jobs and be catastrophic for living standards, our public services and the economy,” said the SNP's ’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford.