Britain’s tumultuous divorce from the European Union was again in disarray on Friday as the opposition Labour Party declared last-ditch cross-party talks were dead in the twilight of Prime Minister Theresa May’s premiership.
Nearly three years after the United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% in a referendum to leave the EU, it is still unclear how, when or if it will ever leave the European club it joined in 1973. The current deadline to leave is Oct. 31.
Brexit talks between May’s Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party have ended without an agreement hours after May agreed on Thursday to set out a timetable for her departure in early June.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to May on Friday, informing her that talks had “gone as far as they can” due to “the increasing weakness and instability” of the government.
Corbyn said May’s government had become unstable and its authority had been eroded undermining confidence in the “government’s ability to deliver any compromise agreement”.
He said the party would oppose May’s thrice-rejected deal when it returns to parliament.
May’s hands have been tied, knowing that to make concessions to Labour would lead to fury in her divided party. Labour has feared that any compromises on issues such as workers’ rights would be torn up by May’s successor.
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