The Prime Minister has discussed the idea with ministers and aides ahead of the next round of Brexit meetings with Labour on Tuesday, the Daily Telegraph reports. Mrs May is said to have worked on “scenario planning”, drawing up possible options if the Government is forced to give MPs a vote on whether a so-called “People’s Vote” should be held. Government sources said a three-way referendum would only be an option if the talks with Jeremy Corbyn and his team broke down.
The premier is believed to be prepared to offer Mr Corbyn three major concessions in return for a deal to break the Brexit logjam.
According to The Sunday Times, Mrs May will offer the opposition a temporary customs arrangement, worker’ rights in line with those in Europe and alignment on regulations on goods.
But the “suck up” compromises may not be enough to woo Labour.
But Mrs May’s hopes of getting an amended deal through Parliament with Labour votes suffered a blow when more than 100 opposition lawmakers signed a letter saying they would not back a Labour-Tory deal without a public vote.
And Mrs May is facing opposition from within her own party as well as it emerged dozens of Conservative lawmakers would block a deal if she caved into Labour’s demands.
Nigel Evans, secretary of the 1922 Committee, warned that “more than 100” Tory MPs would “never support” a customs union.
Yesterday shadow chancellor John McDonnell insisted any customs arrangement would have to be permanent.
He also claimed the Prime Minister had “undermined the confidence” of the Labour team and accused Downing Street of briefing the press on the talks.
A second public vote could be brought about if the two sides failed to reach an agreement on Brexit and Parliament forced through a vote on whether to give the public another chance to have their say.
Mrs May said the disaster suffered by the Conservatives at last week’s local elections in England gave a “fresh urgency” for a Brexit deal to be reached.
More than 1,300 Tory councillors were voted out and the party lost control of 44 councils.
Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson said despite the Conservative party enduring heavy losses, Labour’s results were “more unusual and more significant”.
Mr Corbyn’s party was down 82 seats after the elections.
