Jeremy Corbyn stapt uit Brexit-onderhandelingen met May

Volgens de Labourleider kunnen de onderhandelingen niet verder gaan 'dan hier' omdat de partijen niet in staat zijn belangrijke beleidskloven te overbruggen. Volgens Corbyn is de positie van de regering instabiel en heeft de regering geen gezag meer nu de strijd om het leiderschap binnen de Conservatieve partij is losgebarsten.

Al eerder liet een anonieme bron binnen Labour aan Reuters weten dat de kans dat de Britse premier Theresa May een deal over de Brexit sluit met oppositiepartij Labour nihil was. Dit omdat May op het punt staat haar macht kwijt te raken en er binnen enkele weken een nieuwe leider van de Conservatieven kan zijn. 'Er is nul kans dat we op dit moment tot een overeenkomst kunnen komen', zei de bron. 'We sluiten geen deal met een regering die op instorten staat.'

Mays woordvoerder erkende dat de gesprekken met Labour zijn stukgelopen. De meningsverschillen betroffen vooral de douane en een tweede referendum over het vertrek van het Verenigd Koninkrijk uit de Europese Unie.

Lees hier de brief die Jeremy Corbyn May stuurde:

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to let you know that I believe the talks between us about finding a compromise agreement on leaving the European Union have now gone as far as they can.

I would like to put on record that the talks have been conducted in good faith on both sides and thank those involved for their efforts to find common ground.

The talks have been detailed, constructive and have involved considerable effort for both our teams. However, it has become clear that, while there are some areas where compromise has been possible, we have been unable to bridge important policy gaps between us.

Even more crucially, the increasing weakness and instability of your government means there cannot be confidence in securing whatever might be agreed between us. As I said when we met on Tuesday evening, there has been growing concern in both the Shadow Cabinet and parliamentary Labour Party about the government's ability to deliver on any compromise agreement.

As you have been setting out your decision to stand down and Cabinet ministers are competing to succeed you, the position of the government has become ever more unstable and its authority eroded. Not infrequently, proposals by your negotiating team have been publicly contradicted by statements from other members of the Cabinet.

In recent days we have heard senior Cabinet ministers reject any form of customs union, regardless of proposals made by government negotiators. And despite assurances we have been given on protection of environmental, food and animal welfare standards, the International Trade Secretary has confirmed that importing chlorinated chicken as part of a US trade deal remains on the table.

After six weeks of talks, it is only right that the Government now wishes again to test the will of Parliament, and we will carefully consider any proposals the Government wishes to bring forward to break the Brexit deadlock.

However, I should reiterate that, without significant changes, we will continue to oppose the government's deal as we do not believe it safeguards jobs, living standards and manufacturing industry in Britain.

Yours sincerely, Jeremy Corbyn