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Jeremy Corbyn pulls out of Brexit talks

JEREMY Corbyn said that discussions with the Prime Minister over Brexit have “gone as far as they can” as Labour pulled out of cross-party Brexit talks today.

In a letter to Theresa May, the Labour leader said that the talks have been unable to “bridge important policy gaps,” despite some concessions being made.

“Even more crucially,” the letter went on, “the increasing weakness and instability of your government means there cannot be confidence in securing whatever might be agreed between us.”

Mr Corbyn claimed that the Tory leadership’s refusal to accept any form of customs union as a compromise was a large reason for his withdrawal from talks.

He also mentioned comments made by international trade secretary Liam Fox regarding creating a new US trade deal which involved lowering food standards to import goods such as chlorinated chicken to the British market.

Mr Corbyn added: “Without significant changes we will continue to oppose the government’s deal as we do not believe it safeguards jobs, living standards and manufacturing industry in Britain.”

But he also said that he would “carefully consider” new proposals such as the government’s next plan of presenting MPs with potential Brexit options.

Ms May told Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, that she will be setting a date for her departure in early June.

Boris Johnson and Esther McVey have confirmed that they would be putting their hats in the ring to succeed her.

A Labour source said the party had made no commitments on the indicative votes.

Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) youth representative Lara McNeill told the Star: “Corbyn is absolutely right.

“The instability caused by Tory factionalism and their obsessive infighting is taking our country to the brink of disaster.

“What is clear is that nobody in this country will have democratically mandated the next Tory leader to destroy our public services and rip the social fabric of our society apart.

“We need a general election now to recalibrate Parliament and bring it closer to the wishes of the people of this country.”

Transport union TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes echoed Ms McNeill’s call for a general election and said Labour had “done the right thing” in walking away from “these meaningless talks.”

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