Labour and Tories 'very, very close' to Brexit deal, says cabinet minister
Opponents warn uncertainty over聽the PM's future threatens securing an agreement because of fears her successor could tear it up.
Monday 6 May 2019 09:32, UK
The Conservatives and Labour are "very, very close" on Brexit and so it would be "surprisingly easy" to broker a deal, cabinet newcomer Rory Stewart has told Sky News.
But the International Development Secretary, speaking on Sophy Ridge On Sunday, said it depended on whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wanted to reach an agreement.
At the same time, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told Sky News that a deal brokered between the two sides threatened a "coalition of politicians against the people".
He also challenged Jeremy Corbyn to a debate ahead of the Euro elections and dismissed UKIP, the party he once led, as now "past its sell-by date".
With Mrs May urging the Labour leader to work with the government to agree a compromise deal and end the Brexit impasse, Mr Stewart said: "I think a deal can be done, a lot of this rests on, to be honest, one man: whether Jeremy Corbyn really wants to deliver a Brexit deal.
"But I think if he wants to do it it will be actually surprisingly easy to do because our positions are very, very close."
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Mr Stewart also warned that if the Tories tried to "outdo" Mr Farage then it could lose four million Conservative Remain-supporting voters.
The prime minister has faced renewed calls from within her own party to quit, following last week's drubbing at the local elections, blamed on her handling of Brexit.
But Mr Stewart said: "I think that this idea that somehow it's all to do with an individual is naive. This is about Brexit.
"She's put a very courageous effort in trying to get something through a divided parliament, without a majority and with a very split country.
"Honestly I don't think anybody doing that role, I don't think if some sort of superhero turned up, George Clooney suddenly became prime minister, I don't think he'd be able to charm his way through this problem.
"It's not the individual, the problem is Brexit."
Meanwhile, Mr Farage warned a deal struck between the two parties involving a customs union would be a "coalition of politicians against the people".
He told Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "I think millions of people would give up on both Labour and the Conservatives. This would be the final betrayal."
Calling on Mr Corbyn to debate ahead of the European elections later this month, he said: "There are five million voters out there, Labour voters, who voted to leave, particularly in the Midlands, the North, and South Wales.
"I would love between now and polling to have a debate with Jeremy Corbyn about this because people are very confused about what Labour are standing for."
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said he does not trust the prime minister, as he accused her acting in "bad faith" over the talks.
He told Sky News: "The Conservative party now is so unstable we've got problems.
"How long is Theresa May going to be there, she looks like she may not survive beyond June.
"The second thing is the prospective leadership candidates all of them have undermined the deal, a number of them are threatening that they wouldn't support elements the Theresa May has put forward.
"That's our real problem. It's about negotiating a deal that will protect jobs and the economy but also it's ensuring a deal will survive beyond Theresa May and it's very difficult to see that now."