Labour accuses Theresa May of dodging MPs as Brexit deadlock continues

Liz Bates

Labour has accused Theresa May of dodging Parliamentary scrutiny as it emerged Dominic Raab is set to update MPs on the state of the Brexit talks instead of the Prime Minister.



According to the Guardian, the Brexit Secretary plans to make a statement in the Commons today as Parliament returns after the party conference recess.

But Labour slammed the move, saying the Prime Minister should be the one reporting to MPs ahead of next week's crunch EU Council summit.

A Labour source told the newspaper: “How is the country meant to have confidence in the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan when she isn’t even willing to come to Parliament to defend it?

“Sending the Brexit Secretary to take the flak simply isn’t good enough.”

Labour also accused Mrs May of “trying to avoid public scrutiny and duck her responsibilities”.

Downing Street yesterday played down speculation that a breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations was imminent, despite optimistic noises coming from Brussels in recent days.

EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said an agreement was "not that far" away, while sources told Bloomberg that a deal on the Irish border was "very close".

But a spokesman for Theresa May insisted the Government still wants to see further concessions from the EU before an agreement can be reached.

Elsewhere, the Sun reports that Philip Hammond has dismissed calls to release extra cash for no deal Brexit planning.

The Chancellor has been urged to increase the £3bn already set aside in order to strengthen the UK’s hand as talks come to head, but has reportedly insisted that the current budget is sufficient.

Tory Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith said: “How can the PM say we are preparing to leave the EU without a deal when her Chancellor is refusing to pay for it?”