Brexit news: Theresa May rules out any negotiation with Jeremy Corbyn over customs union demands after meeting with Labour leader

With just 46 days before Britain is set to leave the EU, the prime minister is still searching for a deal she can pass through the Commons

Theresa May confident Brexit will be delivered on March 29

Theresa May is seeking a compromise with Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit, a government minister has said as the prime minister reached out to Labour.

But with just 46 days before Britain is set to leave the EU, Downing Street rejected any agreement being reached with the Labour leader over a customs unions – one of Mr Corbyn’s central demands.

Referring to a letter sent by Ms May to Mr Corbyn, justice minister Rory Stewart said Ms May was seeking some sort of compromise, adding: “I think she feels, as I do that there isn’t actually as much dividing us from the Labour Party as some people suggest.”

Here is how we covered the day's events:

Key Points

• PM reaches out to Corbyn amid Brexit impasse 
• ... as minister claims there 'isn't actually as much dividing us from Labour' over plans
• ... but Downing Street rejects any negotiation on customs union
• ... and group of pro-referendum Tories demand meeting with May

[11 February 2019 11:07 · Ashley Cowburn]

Labour MP David Lammy, a high-profile supporter of the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum, said: "Theresa May's letter makes it clear there is no hope of her agreeing for the UK to stay in a permanent customs union or to guarantee alignment with the EU on rights and protections after Brexit, as Jeremy Corbyn had requested.

"The prime minister will only consider a withdrawal deal vague enough to avoid settling any of the key questions about our future relationship with the EU. This may be the only way she can placate ERG (European Research Group) hardliners and keep the Tory Party together, but it is not good enough for the country.

"The economy and tens of thousands of jobs are at risk, as well as workers', consumers' and environmental protections. The Labour Party cannot consider backing this form of blindfold Brexit. It is antithetical to our values and our purpose as a party.

"We have now entered the emergency zone of these negotiations, and the prime minister has swept Labour's only other option off the table. We have now got to begin campaigning for a People's Vote."

[11 February 2019 11:19 · Ashley Cowburn]

A group of Conservative MPs - Right to Vote - have today written to the prime minister requesting an urgent meeting. They are all supporters of a Final Say referendum. 

"In the Conservative party we have a proud democratic and pragmatic tradition. We must follow this. The fear of delay should not box us into a corner so that the country leaves with the worst possible outcome. We should take enough time to resolve this impasse. We would be grateful for an urgent meeting with you to discuss this option. We appreciate the many pressures on your diary at this time, but we are aware that over the past few months you have met with pro-Brexit MPs on a number of occasions. We hope you feel that the voice of patriotic, pragmatic Conservatives is also worth listening to. Given the urgency of this issue as we head towards further votes in Parliament, we should be grateful if you could confirm to us this week if a meeting will be possible."

Here is the letter

[11 February 2019 11:51 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May will make a Brexit statement on Tuesday in the House of Commons, a spokesman for the prime minister has just told a briefing of journalists in Wednesday. 

Though don't expect anything significant tomorrow in the statement - given no breakthrough has been achieved in Brussels in the negotiations. Expect it rather to be a state of the play update with the PM laying another neutral motion, giving MPs the chance once more to vote on Brexit-related amendments in the chamber, on Valentine's Day. 

[11 February 2019 12:16 · Ashley Cowburn]

Interesting report here from our Europe Correspondent, Jon Stone.

[11 February 2019 12:39 · Ashley Cowburn]

At the Downing Street briefing, a spokesman for the prime minister was also asked about Theresa May's letter to Jeremy Corbyn. On a customs union they said: "We are absolutely clear on this: we're not considering Jeremy Corbyn's customs proposals: we're not considering any proposals to remain in the customs union. 

"We must have our own, independent trade policy."

This goes further than the letter sent to Mr Corbyn overnight by the prime minister - explicitly dismissing one of the Labour leader's key demands. 

[11 February 2019 13:12 · Ashley Cowburn]

[11 February 2019 13:16 · Ashley Cowburn]

International trade secretary Liam Fox has warned that Labour proposals for a customs union with the EU are "not workable".

"Of course we always want to work with the opposition but the opposition has put forward some ideas that are not workable," he told reporters in Bern at the signing of a new trade deal with Switzerland.

"The idea that you can have a customs union with the EU and at the same time, as an outside country, have an effect on EU trade policy is to not understand the EU treaties.

"It is very clear from the European Union that non-EU members do not have a say in EU trade policy so to pretend that you could do so is a dangerous delusion."

[11 February 2019 13:37 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May's official spokesman said the first deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth will be in 2021 with the full details agreed by the Prime Minister in due course.

Asked whether the Defence Secretary's comments referred to China, the PM's spokesman said: "In relation to China, I think we have set out areas where we have concerns - such as around cyber-intrusions against the UK and our allies. But it is also a country with which we have a strong and constructive relationship."

[11 February 2019 14:12 · Ashley Cowburn]

[11 February 2019 14:21 · Ashley Cowburn]

This is from ITV's Daniel Hewitt on an attempt to hand in a second referendum petition from a Labour MP to the party's HQ.... which didn't go according to plan.

In response, a Labour Party source says: "For the safety and security of staff members, the Labour Party does not accept hand-delivered petitions. Anyone who informs us of an intention to do so is asked to send it through electronically."

They added this message was communicated to Angela Smith last week.