Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg led a tirade against the Prime Minister after she ended a marathon Cabinet offering new talks with the Labour leader to avoid Britain leaving with No Deal. They believe she will now oversee a soft Brexit that smashes the promises made by Vote Leave. 

Mrs May said the current divorce deal could not be changed but promised to renegotiate a new political deal with the EU on what the future relationship might look like in an attempt to ‘end the impasse’. No ministers have resigned so far and No 10 said the offer was agreed on ‘collectively’.  

Mrs May’s current deal – which includes the fixed divorce deal and current political agreement on the final UK-EU relationship – appears to be dead. It was trounced twice by MPs, while the divorce deal alone was crushed a third time on Friday.

To get a new cross-party agreement Mrs May will have to make major concessions on her red lines. She admitted there was a need to ‘break the logjam’ and warned it was an ‘historic moment’ for the nation. 

Labour leader Mr Corbyn tonight said he was ‘happy’ to meet with the Prime Minister and said she ‘has made a move’ that provides a basis for new talks with ‘no limits’. He warned Britain must not crash out without a deal and said he ‘held in reserve’ the prospect of a No Confidence motion if Mrs May loses again. 

But Mr Johnson said the decision to hand control to Mr Corbyn meant the Cabinet had concluded ‘any deal is better than no deal’. Mr Rees-Mogg accused the PM of handing power to a ‘known Marxist’.

The Tories have promised to leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union so they can end free movement of people and strike new trade deals after Brexit. Labour’s policy is to keep a customs union and last night Mr Corbyn ordered his MPs to back a plan that accepted continued EU free movement.

Last week, Mrs May promised her party she would resign as Tory leader and PM once the first phase of Brexit is over – a move which may undermine efforts to seal a deal with Labour if Mr Corbyn believes her successor will scrap any political deal he makes now. 

The PM said she wanted a new plan in place in time for an emergency EU summit next Wednesday, April 10, so she can explain to EU leaders why Britain needs more time. The PM said she wanted to get the deal through in time to avoid EU elections next month – but it is deeply unclear whether the EU will agree to this. 

The EU has made clear any further extension will mean Britain taking part in EU elections on May 23. EU leaders must agree unanimously on a new delay and have warned they want a clear plan.  

The Prime Minister’s ‘mother of all Cabinet meetings’ massively overran today with MPs having their phones taken to avoid leaks and only allowed a sandwich and a stroll around the No 10 garden in a brief break from crisis talks. 

Ministers were locked inside Downing Street after the meeting ended and while Mrs May prepared her speech, sipping Chilean red wine to pass the time.

Nobody has so far resigned from the Cabinet. Leaks suggest that in the meeting, 14 members of the Cabinet spoke out against a further delay to Brexit – including Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Chief Secretary Liz Truss.

Mrs May’s proposed delay was backed by 10 ministers, including Chancellor Philip Hammond, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. 

A general election was ‘discussed’ by ministers this morning but there was little enthusiasm and ministers ruled it out.  

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Theresa May (pictured tonight in Downing Street) admitted Brexit would have to be delayed further tonight as she offered talks with Jeremy Corbyn on a new joint plan for the final UK-EU relationship

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The PM said if agreement with Mr Corbyn (pictured leaving home today) proved impossible, the decision will be passed to Parliament – and promised to follow MPs’ orders. Talks with Mr Corbyn have been tried before and failed

In a dramatic Downing Street speech, Mrs May said: ‘Today I’m taking action to break the logjam. I’m offering to sit down with the leader of the opposition and try to agree a plan that we would both stick to to ensure we leave the EU and we do so with a deal.

‘This is a decisive moment’: May’s call for ‘national unity’ to save Brexit in full  

I have just come from chairing seven hours of Cabinet meetings focused on finding a route out of the current impasse – one that will deliver the Brexit the British people voted for, and allow us to move on and begin bringing our divided country back together.

I know there are some who are so fed up with delay and endless arguments that they would like to leave with No Deal next week.

I have always been clear that we could make a success of No Deal in the long-term. But leaving with a deal is the best solution.

So we will need a further extension of Article 50 – one that is as short as possible and which ends when we pass a deal.

And we need to be clear what such an extension is for – to ensure we leave in a timely and orderly way.

This debate, this division, cannot drag on much longer.

It is putting Members of Parliament and everyone else under immense pressure – and it is doing damage to our politics.

Despite the best efforts of MPs, the process that the House of Commons has tried to lead has not come up with an answer.

So today I am taking action to break the logjam: I am offering to sit down with the Leader of the Opposition and to try to agree a plan – that we would both stick to – to ensure that we leave the European Union and that we do so with a deal.

Any plan would have to agree the current Withdrawal Agreement – it has already been negotiated with the 27 other members, and the EU has repeatedly said that it cannot and will not be reopened.

What we need to focus on is our Future Relationship with the EU.

The ideal outcome of this process would be to agree an approach on a Future Relationship that delivers on the result of the Referendum, that both the Leader of the Opposition and I could put to the House for approval, and which I could then take to next week’s European Council.

However, if we cannot agree on a single unified approach, then we would instead agree a number of options for the Future Relationship that we could put to the House in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue.

Crucially, the Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House.

But to make this process work, the Opposition would need to agree to this too.

The Government would then bring forward the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. We would want to agree a timetable for this Bill to ensure it is passed before 22nd May so that the United Kingdom need not take part in European Parliamentary Elections.

This is a difficult time for everyone. Passions are running high on all sides of the argument.

But we can and must find the compromises that will deliver what the British people voted for.

This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands. And it requires national unity to deliver the national interest. 

‘Any plan would have to agree the current Withdrawal Agreement – it has already been negotiated with the 27 other members and the EU has repeatedly said it cannot and will not be re-opened.’

Mrs May said if she and Mr Corbyn could not agree a way forward she would present ‘a number of options for the future relationship that we could put to the house in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue’.

‘Crucially, the Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House. But to make this process work the opposition would need to agree to this too,’ she added.  

Standing in Downing Street tonight, Mrs May said: ‘This debate, this division, cannot drag on much longer.

‘It is putting Members of Parliament and everyone else under immense pressure – and it is doing damage to our politics.

‘Despite the best efforts of MPs, the process that the House of Commons has tried to lead has not come up with an answer.’ 

She added: ‘The ideal outcome of this process would be to agree an approach on a Future Relationship that delivers on the result of the Referendum, that both the Leader of the Opposition and I could put to the House for approval, and which I could then take to next week’s European Council.’

Mrs May made clear she wanted to save the prospect of leaving on May 22 – despite the EU making clear the deal had to be agreed last week to lock in this date.

Failure to persuade the EU to agree that schedule would mean taking part in EU elections next month.

Mrs May said:  ‘This is a difficult time for everyone. Passions are running high on all sides of the argument.

‘But we can and must find the compromises that will deliver what the British people voted for. This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands. And it requires national unity to deliver the national interest.’

In response, Mr Corbyn said: ‘We will meet the Prime Minister.

‘We recognise that she has made a move, I recognise my responsibility to represent the people that supported Labour in the last election and the people who didn’t support Labour but nevertheless want certainty and security for their own future and that’s the basis on which we will meet her and we will have those discussions.’

But ERG leader Jacob Rees-Mogg condemned Mrs May for planning to collaborate with ‘a known Marxist’ and said the move would lose Tory votes.

He said: ‘You do find that leaders who decide to go with the opposition rather than their own party find their own party doesn’t plainly follow.

‘I’m not sure this is the way to conciliate people to persuade them if they haven’t moved already to move at this stage.

‘I think getting the support of a known Marxist is not likely to instil confidence in Conservatives.’

Mr Johnson said: ‘It is very disappointing that the cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.

‘It now seems all too likely that British trade policy and key law making powers will be handed over to Brussels – with no say for the UK.

‘As it is, we now face the ridiculous possibility of being forced to contest the European elections more than three years after leaving the EU and having to agree to exit terms that in no way resemble what the people were promised when they voted to leave.

‘The PM and cabinet have concluded that any deal is better than no deal, and this is truly a very bad deal indeed – one that leaves us being run by the EU. I can under no circumstances vote for a deal involving a customs union as I believe that does not deliver on the referendum.’ 

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After weeks of conflict in the Conservative Party, public support for Labour stands at 41 per cent, five points clear of the Tories on 36.

If repeated at an Election, Labour would be on course to win 307 seats, while the Conservatives would claim just 264.

Although Mr Corbyn would be 19 seats short of a majority, it would leave him in pole position to enter No 10 if he could strike an deal with the Scottish Nationalists

When the 11-strong Independent Group of Labour and Tory MPs is included in the poll choices, Labour is still ahead, on 35 per cent, with the Tories on 32 per cent and the new group – now called Change UK – on nine per cent.

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Jeremy Corbyn would be poised on the threshold of Downing Street if Theresa May called a General Election, an exclusive Mail on Sunday poll has found

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Although Mr Corbyn would be 19 seats short of a majority, it would leave him in pole position to enter No 10 if he could strike an deal with the Scottish Nationalists

The findings by Deltapoll represent a sharp turnaround for Mr Corbyn from last month’s MoS poll when the Tories enjoyed a seven-point cushion.

The new poll also shows that Boris Johnson enjoys a clear lead among the electorate in the race to succeed Mrs May as Tory leader, with more than twice the level of support of his closest rival, Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove is the next most popular, followed by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss.

The results will be seized upon by supporters of Mr Johnson. He has traditionally been more popular in the country than he is among the Tory MPs who would determine the final two candidates for a run-off among party members.

It will also embolden him in his battle with Mrs May’s allies in No 10 and at Tory HQ who have been plotting to sabotage his bid to take over the reins of power. 

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In a desperate bid to win support for her deal, Mrs May promised her party’s hardline Brexiteers that she would step down if they dropped their opposition, only to lose the vote anyway.

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The new poll also shows that Boris Johnson enjoys a clear lead among the electorate in the race to succeed Mrs May as Tory leader

The poll shows that nearly two-thirds of voters think that Mrs May should resign – 41 per cent say she should do so immediately, with a further 23 per cent saying she should do so if her deal is passed by the Commons. Just 22 per cent want her to stay.

In a desperate bid to win support for her deal, Mrs May promised her party’s hardline Brexiteers that she would step down if they dropped their opposition, only to lose the vote anyway.

It is clear that the country is as divided as the Commons over a way through the Brexit quagmire, with the public evenly split on options such as pursuing a No Deal, holding a second referendum or cancelling Brexit altogether. Deltapoll’s Joe Twyman said: ‘Theresa May has threatened the rebel MPs in her party with a General Election if they do not finally come around and support her Brexit deal. These results, however, show just what a kamikaze risk that may be.

‘Choosing to call an Election when so far behind in the polls could be seen as the bravest or worst decision ever made by a British Prime Minister in modern times.’

• Deltapoll interviewed 1,010 British adults online between March 28 and 30, 2019. The data has been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.

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Michel Barnier told reporters today that any longer extension to Article 50 would only be considered if there was ‘a new political process’ in the UK to justify it.

It came as reports suggested that Mrs May would ask EU leaders for a two-year delay, with an option to exit the EU by June if a deal was passed by Parliament.

This would allow her to woo Brexiteers into supporting a deal to get out in three months and avoid taking part in European elections in May.

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Mrs May (pictured today) reportedly wants the option of a two-year delay, with an option to exit by June if a deal was passed by Parliament, allowing her to woo Brexiteers into supporting a deal to get out in three months

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After meeting Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney (left) he warned that a long delay would increase ‘uncertainty’ and the UK could not ask for both that and a short extension, saying: ‘It’s one or the other, isn’t it?’

Stressing that it was ultimately a decision for EU27 leaders at the European Council meeting on Thursday, he said: ‘The EU authorities want to know what the underlying political process which would be the grounds for that extension would be – political process within the House of Commons or in the general political debate in the UK.’

Mr Barnier added: ‘It is our duty to ask whether this extension would be useful because an extension will be something which would extend uncertainty, and uncertainty costs.’

He added: ‘What would be the purpose and outcome? How could we be sure that at the end of a possible extension we are not back in the same situation as today?’

With just 10 days to go until the UK is due to leave the EU unless an extension to Article 50 is granted, he warned that ‘voting against no-deal does not prevent it from happening.’

He added: ‘Everyone should now finalise all preparations for no-deal scenario. On the EU side, we are prepared.’

Mrs May admitted Britain was in crisis today as a Cabinet meeting ended in recriminations amid claims she could ask the EU for a two-year delay to Brexit. 

Cabinet wrestled with what to do next for 90 minutes today in the aftermath of the bombshell ruling from the Commons Speaker that the PM could not bring back her deal unchanged for a new vote. 

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Mr Varadkar had to remind himself what day it was when Mr Tusk went to sign and date the visitor’s book at the Government Buildings in Dublin today

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May’s dilemma: PM’s delay options ahead of crunch Brussels trip 

Theresa May has a range of Brexit delay options she could ask for when she goes to the European Council on Thursday.

But with Europe apparently divided on what to give her there is no certainty she will get any of them at the moment.

Here are some of her options:

• April 11: Number 10 believes that the UK must leave on or before this date in order to avoid the £108million cost of taking part in the European Parliament elections in May.
• May 23: Some EU figures believe that the UK can leave at any time up until the elections start on May 23 without having to take part.
• June 30: This is Theresa May’s preferred shorter Brexit postponement option. The European Parliament sits for the first time on July 2 so any British MEPs elected in May would not take their seats.
• Nine months: The shorter version of the long extension of Article 50 as discussed by the cabinet this morning, with a caveat allowing the UK to sooner if a Brexit deal is passed by MPs.
• Twenty one months: The longer version of that same extension discussed at Cabinet with the same caveat about leaving earlier.
• Two years: The longest reported delay to Brexit being considered. This would be combined with the June 30 exit, allowing Mrs May to try to convince Brexiteers to pass a deal or be trapped until 2021.
• Zero: It’s highly unlikely but Mrs May could go to Brussels on Thursday and not ask for a delay to Brexit, meaning we would leave on March 29, most probably without a deal.

Mrs May warned John Bercow’s intervention had left Parliament a ‘laughing stock’ – and warned the risk to Brexit now meant it was ‘Parliament vs the People’, a Cabinet source said. 

The Prime Minister must now beg the EU for a delay to Brexit without one final push on her deal. 

She will write to EU Council President Donald Tusk before the summit on Thursday setting out what she wants.

Downing Street refused to comment today on what the letter will say or what Cabinet discussed in terms of delay.  No 10 sources denied a two-year extension was discussed.

But ministers are said to have split on how long to ask for. Commons Leader and Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom warned: ‘This used to be the Cabinet that would deliver Brexit and now from what I’m hearing it’s not.’

Of Mr Bercow’s intervention, Mrs May’s official spokesman said: ‘If you look back at the speech by the Prime Minister before meaningful vote two (MVII), she said that if MPs did not support MVII, we would be in a moment of crisis.

‘I think events yesterday tell you that situation has come to pass.’

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The Leave supporter vowed to vote for no deal as he made the surprise decision to walk out on the PM after she handed Parliament more control of the Brexit process.

Mrs May made a screeching U-turn this week to admit if MPs reject her deal a second time by March 12, they will get to vote first on whether to go for no deal on March 13 and, if not, on delaying Brexit on March 14. 

In the wake of her concessions Mr Eustice told Mrs May he now wanted to play full part in how Britain leaves the EU and could not do so as a minister having already stayed through ‘a series of rather undignified retreats’.

The MP, who was Michael Gove’s deputy as Environment Secretary, told Mrs May he would vote for her deal when it comes back to Parliament – but said he would then vote to leave with no deal if she loses a second time. 

The incendiary resignation will fuel Brexiteer fears ministers expect to be whipped to vote against no deal on March 13 – despite Mrs May insisting no deal is still an option. 

In his furious resignation letter, Mr Eustice lashed Remain supporters in Parliament for refusing to respect the referendum result – telling Mrs May she has been ‘terribly undermined’.

He demanded the Government should show ‘courage’ and commit to leaving the EU without a deal if Brussels refuses to make further concessions.

Mr Eustice accused the EU of not acting ‘honorably’ in the talks, deliberately making negotiations ‘slow and difficult’.

In reply, Mrs May said she was ‘very sorry’ to receive the letter and thanked Mr Eustice for five and a half years of ‘exemplary service’. 

She welcomed his plan to vote for the deal and added: ‘I agree with you that Parliament must now come together and honour the referendum result by voting for a deal which will give businesses and citizens the certainty they need and deserve.’ 

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The extreme measures are being considered as part of a major response if the UK crashes out of the EU at the end of March.

Mandarins have been discussing whether to use wide-ranging powers in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 – which include curfews, travel bans and deploying the army. 

Meanwhile, MPs face sitting longer and having their holidays cancelled as efforts are ramped up to get crucial legislation through Parliament in time for the schedule March 29 departure date.

The developments come as Theresa May desperately scrambles to find a way through Parliamentary deadlock on Brexit.

The PM is trying to fend off a bid by cross-party Remainers in a key vote on Tuesday night to force her to delay the Article 50 process. The plan, pushed by Labour’s Yvette Cooper, would pave the way for law ordering a nine-month extension to be considered on February 5. 

Amendments are also tabled intended to rule out a no-deal Brexit, and stage a series of ‘indicative’ votes to work out what approach would gain a majority in the Commons. 

The government appears to be pinning its hope on changes tabled by senior Tories that would demand a rewriting of the controversial Irish border backstop – something she could take to Brussels as concrete evidence of the will of MPs.

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The gang of Labour and Tory MPs who were backing a so-called People’s Vote blasted Jeremy Corbyn for killing off their chances of winning.

Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston had planned to table the ‘doctor’s amendment’ to next Tuesday’s crunch Brexit motion to demand a second referendum.

But stood outside Parliament this morning flanked by pro-EU Labour MPs Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna, she announced a U-turn.

The shock moves comes after a massive row among Remainer MPs over when to finally show their hand a call a Commons vote on another referendum.

Although Tony Blair – an arch Remainer – today said there is a more than 50 per cent chance that another referendum could be held.

Speaking at a hastily arranged press conference on the steps of the Palace of Westminster, Dr Wollaston said: ‘It is with great regret we will not be laying that amendment, because at this stage and until we have the leader of the Opposition’s backing, it would not pass.’

Ms Berger blasted her party leader for refusing to back another referendum – and accused him of ignoring the overwhelming wishes of his own members. 

She said: ‘As things stand we have just 30 sitting days of parliament until we are due to exit the European Union.  

‘There is no consensus across the House of Commons, and there is an urgent need for leadership.

‘We have seen he worst parliamentary  defeat of any government, but the Prime Minister insists on pursuing a dud deal which cannot command the majority support of MPs in the House of Commons.’

Lashing Mr Corbyn, she said: ‘Regrettably, the Labour leadership won’t commit to an achievable policy, and yet we know that the majority of Labour voters, supporters and members, want a final say on any Brexit deal.

‘And yet, at a time when Labour should be championing a Peoples’ Vote, the leadership avoids answering that call.

‘Because the Labour leadership and frontbench won’t back a People’s Vote, there will not be a vote on a cross-party People’s Vote amendment next week.

‘This is not good enough. Labour should be clearly setting out a different course – not facilitating a jobs destroying Brexit.’

MPs are gearing up to vote on a series of crucial amendments on Brexit in a crunch Commons showdown next Tuesday.

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The ‘coup’ could see the government stripped of control over business in Parliament – paralysing the PM and potentially allowing MPs to prevent the UK crashing out without a deal.

The move – which No10 believes is being orchestrated by former ministers Oliver Letwin and Dominic Grieve – could happen within hours of Mrs May’s Brexit plan being heavily defeated on Tuesday, as seems inevitable.

The manoeuvring was only uncovered by Chief Whip Julian Smith when he overheard conspirators in the MPs’ cloakroom.

Ministers have been warned success for the plotters could make it impossible for the government to cling on.

There are claims Speaker John Bercow is ready to help the backbench uprising, after he secretly met Mr Grieve last week. 

The high-stakes battle emerged as Mrs May launched another desperate effort to salvage the package she has thrashed out with Brussels.

Mrs May said failing to deliver on the verdict of the referendum would be ‘unforgivable’ and a ‘catastrophe’ for democracy. 

At the start of an historic week in Parliament that could make or break Brexit:

• Former PM Sir John Major has joined calls for Article 50 to be revoked to give the UK more time, reiterating his support for a second referendum. 
• Mrs May is still thought to be on track for a huge defeat on her Brexit deal, with speculation it could be the biggest ever suffered by a government. 
• Cabinet ministers have warned of a ‘Brexit bunfight’ between supporters of alternative policies if Mrs May’s package is killed off.
• Hopes are fading of significant concessions from the EU before the crunch Parliamentary clash. 
• Jeremy Corbyn hinted Labour is preparing to force a no-confidence vote this week if the premier loses the Commons showdown. 
• Fourteen military planners are said to have have been deployed to Whitehall departments to help with preparations for border chaos if the UK crashes out. 

Hardline Remainers and Brexiteers have been mobilising in a bid to thwart her plans.  

Downing Street said it was ‘extremely concerned’ about a backbench plot to change Commons rules to enable backbench motions to take precedence over Government business, warning it was a ‘real threat’ to its ability to function. 

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