The Prime Minister has struggled to reach an agreement in cross-party talks, and faces increasing pressure from MPs to secure a Brexit deal before the European elections on May 23. Mrs May has continued to clash with the Labour Party, who favour a closer alignment to the EU after Brexit and wish remain in a customs union. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mrs May have not met face-to-face for talks since March, but smaller “working groups” are said to have engaged in discussions over the past three weeks. On Sunday, Downing Street said Mrs May will meet with Mr Corbyn, Chancellor Philip Hammond, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and other senior cabinet and shadow cabinet members this week for talks.
One opposition party official said Mr McDonnell had plans to discuss Brexit with Mr Hammond after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
One Government official told the Times: “Speed is of the essence here if we are to get something agreed and through both houses.
“We want to avoid the European elections so we need a resolution as soon as possible.”
However, Labour has not confirmed if Mr Corbyn will participate in talks.
The Prime Minister and her husband Philip have returned back from their trip to Snowdonia in Wales over the Easter weekend, and she is now set to return back to Parliament to kickstart negotiations.
However, if Mrs May manages to pass her deal through the Commons in the coming weeks, she will only have 18 working days to finalise all legislation.
If no agreement is reached, the Prime Minister has promised to provide alternative Brexit options for MPs to vote on.
On Sunday Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson insisted Labour must back a second Brexit referendum and not “sit on the fence” any longer.
Writing in the Observer, he said: “Labour won’t defeat Farage by being mealy-mouthed and sounding as if we half agree with him.
“We won’t beat him unless we can inspire the millions crying out for a different direction.
“We won’t win if we sit on the fence about the most crucial issue that has faced our country for a generation.”
He added: “Now that we know a bit more about what Brexit means, the very least that Leavers and Remainers deserve is a final say – a confirmatory referendum – on any deal.
“They deserve a Labour party that offers clarity on this issue, as well as the radical vision for a new political economy achieved by working with our socialist allies inside the EU.
“And, above all, they deserve better than Nigel Farage’s promise of a far-right Brexit that would solve nothing.”
