Theresa May on Jeremy Corbyn
TL;DR
Theresa May ultimately sought direct, cross-party talks with Jeremy Corbyn to break the Brexit deadlock.
Key Points
In April 2019, she offered to enter direct talks with him to break the Brexit logjam.
Her attempt to negotiate with the Labour leader prompted fury from Conservative Eurosceptics who accused her of betrayal.
Both leaders entered the talks while knowing any agreement was likely unacceptable to half of their respective parliamentary parties.
Summary
Theresa May's public position regarding Jeremy Corbyn shifted significantly to seek collaboration in an effort to resolve the parliamentary impasse over Brexit. Facing repeated defeats for her Withdrawal Agreement, she made a public overture in April 2019, offering to sit down with the Leader of the Opposition to agree on a cross-party plan she would stick to for leaving the European Union. This move opened the door to accepting potentially softer Brexit terms, such as a customs union or a second referendum, which were Labour's positions, causing an immediate furious backlash among her own Eurosceptic MPs.
Initially, the political context positioned May and Corbyn as opponents whose diametrically opposed views made any potential agreement difficult, as both leaders feared splitting their respective parties if they compromised. The prime minister's attempt to negotiate was driven by the imminence of European elections and a clear need to find a way forward beyond the traditional binary choices, even if the resulting compromise was unacceptable to half of her parliamentary party. The negotiations between the two leaders were ultimately viewed as a last, desperate effort to achieve a consensual path for the UK to exit the EU by the new deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Theresa May's primary reason for engaging with Jeremy Corbyn was to break the parliamentary deadlock over her Withdrawal Agreement concerning Brexit. She sought a cross-party compromise to ensure the United Kingdom left the European Union, avoiding a 'no deal' scenario or European elections. She specifically offered talks to agree on a plan they would both stick to.
The leaders entered talks in a spirit of cooperation, with the Labour leader stating he was happy to meet the prime minister. However, sources indicated that finding an agreement in the short timeframe required would be extremely difficult. Their negotiations ultimately represented a last, desperate ambition to find a consensus path for Brexit.
The overture from Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn prompted a furious backlash from Conservative Eurosceptics within her party. Several prominent figures accused her of betrayal and legitimizing the Labour leader. Some MPs privately threatened fresh attempts to remove the prime minister if she struck a deal with Labour.