Jeremy Corbyn speaks out after rare 45-minute Brexit meeting with Theresa May - News Live
Brexit,Labour Party,House of Commons,European Union,Jeremy Corbyn,Theresa Jeremy Corbyn today warned he is "suspicious" Theresa May is trying to "run down the clock" on Brexit after the pair met for a rare 45-minute meeting.
The Labour leader met the Prime Minister for talks on the way forward after MPs voted symbolically last night to "reject" a No Deal Brexit .
Mr Corbyn's spokesman appeared to indicate the Prime Minister was open to a customs union - saying she was "seriously engaged with the detail and what might find common ground in Parliament".
But speaking within minutes, Mrs May's official spokesman warned her plan is "not possible" if she accepts Mr Corbyn's demand for a customs union with the EU.
Jeremy Corbyn's team said the talks were "useful" and although a date's not been set, the pair will meet again "soon".
But Mr Corbyn also warned reporters after the meeting: "The whole process looks like it's running down the clock by saying, well, it's either the problems and the difficulties of no deal or support a deal that's already been rejected by the House of Commons.
"I'm suspicious that there is a programme of running down the clock here."
Mr Corbyn had previously refused to agree to talks until Mrs May removed the threat of a no deal Brexit.
She still has not done so.
But Labour's leader claimed a non-binding vote in the Commons last night, to "reject" no deal, was enough.
So he was invited at 3pm today to Mrs May's House of Commons office - depriving him of the chance to walk through the door of 10 Downing Street.
The Labour leader said he held "serious" talks with the Prime Minister which were "exploratory on the issues".
He added he "set out the Labour case for a comprehensive customs union with the European Union in order to protect jobs in this country".
Mr Corbyn's spokesman suggested Mrs May did not rule out joining a customs union.
Asked if she was moving her position, the spokesman said: "She is seriously engaged with the detail and what might find common ground."
Asked again if she might move on a customs union the spokesman said: "There was a serious engagement on the detail.
"She was interested in exploring the detail of each element."
The spokesman said the meeting was "very cordial", "serious and engaged" and a "useful exchange of views".
But the spokesman also suggested Mr Corbyn was unlikely to compromise as he continues to see Labour's plan as the way forward.
"I think... there clearly is broad basis for an agreement that could be reached in Parliament and could win support in Parliament and could be negotiated with the EU," the spokesman said.
"The three basic building blocks that we've identified over quite a period of time are clearly the basis of such a potential agreement.
"But of course the PM would need to move her red lines to be able to support that."