Jeremy Corbyn to hold private Brexit talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier
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Loading... - Jerry Patel official
- 27 Sep 2021
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Jeremy Corbyn is set to hold private talks with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, today.
Heading to Brussels along with Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader is expected to warn Barnier to avoid a no-deal Brexit at all costs.
Corbyn said yesterday Labour would vote against a Brexit deal based on Theresa May's proposals, the strongest warning yet to a prime minister whose plan to leave the European Union is hanging by a thread.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Corbyn said: ”With just weeks of negotiating time left, it’s clear that UK-EU Brexit talks are in a perilous state. Time is running out and companies are losing patience with the absence of any clarity from the government.
“Crashing out of Europe with no deal risks being a national disaster.
"That is why I’m meeting EU officials today, and I will be urging them to do all they can to avoid a ‘no-deal’ outcome, which would be so damaging to jobs and living standards in both the UK and EU countries.”
Shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner, appearing on ITV's Peston show, said the party would be willing to make compromises with the Tories to avoid a no-deal.
He said: "If it means compromising, if it means you bending your red line to give us a customs union, we're prepared to bend our red lines to give, to give this a deal."
Corbyn has previously met with Barnier to discuss Brexit, and once brought him an Arsenal football shirt as a gift.
May has said that Labour's meetings with EU officials are undermining her efforts to negotiate a Brexit deal.
Former home secretary Amber Rudd , also appearing on ITV's Peston show, revealed that she would "absolutely" support a second referendum on the UK's membership of the EU over no-deal.
She said: "I don't think no deal will happen.
"I think that if we can't get a negotiated deal, that the Prime Minister brings back through Parliament, then I think that we're in completely uncharted territory.
"I think that one of the outcomes you might get is a Norway style EEA deal, and I know that various colleagues are looking at that."
