PM ploughs on with cross-party talks in bid to find consensus, as Brexiters round on May over new article 50 extension

Theresa May has dispatched shattered MPs for a 10-day Easter recess, and urged them to use the time away from Westminster to “reflect on the decisions that will have to be made swiftly on our return,” after European Union leaders set 31 October as the new Brexit deadline.

The prime minister addressed the House of Commons after her return from the late-night summit in Brussels at which EU27 leaders thrashed out an extension to article 50.

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She stressed her determination to plough ahead with cross-party talks aimed at striking a Brexit consensus; and shrugged off calls for her resignation from backbenchers furious at the fresh delay.

“Let us use the opportunity of the recess to reflect on the decisions that will have to be made swiftly on our return after Easter. And let us then resolve to find a way through this impasse. So that we can leave the EU with a deal as soon as possible,” May told MPs.

Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, had earlier confirmed that parliament would go into recess – a week later than originally planned – meaning MPs can return to their constituencies.

May said the government would continue to talk to Labour about finding a Brexit compromise.

“However challenging it may be politically, I profoundly believe that in this unique situation where the house is deadlocked, it is incumbent on both front benches to seek to work together to deliver what the British people voted for. And I think that the British people expect their politicians to do just that when the national interest demands it,” May said.

May later met Corbyn for 10 minutes, after an earlier discussion between officials. A Labour spokesperson said: “Both sides agreed to continue talks in an effort to make substantive progress towards finding a compromise plan.”

May insisted that if MPs could pass a deal before 22 May, Britain could still avoid having to participate in European parliament elections and leave the EU at the end of that month.

The veteran Conservative MP Bill Cash responded to her statement by calling the extension of article 50 an “abject surrender” and asking her if she would resign. Another vocal Brexiter, Peter Bone, reminded her of her commitment not to allow article 50 to be extended beyond 30 June.

Steve Baker, the vice-chair of the European Research Group, asked whether – if she was willing to force through a deal “over the heads” of her own party and the DUP – she would be “seeking the confidence of the Labour party”.

May blamed the Brexiters’ own intransigence for the failure of her deal to pass; and gave little sign of being rattled by the latest calls for her resignation.

Brexiters privately admit that having triggered a vote of no confidence in the prime minister last December, they now have no mechanism to dislodge her, unless she chooses to go. Tory rules say leaders who see off a challenge are given a year’s grace.

However, former Brexit secretary David Davis suggested she would now face a growing chorus of calls for her departure, after accepting another delay to Brexit, rather than opting to leave without a deal.

He told the BBC’s Today programme that after promising to step down if her deal was passed last month – before it was rejected by MPs for a third time – she would now be pressured to go: “When prime ministers put a date on their own departure, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy … The pressure on her to go will increase dramatically, I suspect now.

“Whether it comes to anything, who knows? The rules are the rules. There will be pressure on her to go, there will a new leader and then a reset in the negotiations.”

Davis said it would be difficult to see how May could continue to be leader until the Conservative party conference in the autumn.

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In his response to May’s statement, Corbyn issued a fresh warning against allowing a future Tory leader to use Brexit to unleash a “race to the bottom” by slashing regulation and undermining workers’ rights.

Labour is pressing for the government to find a way of enshrining its promises on workers’ rights and environmental standards into legislation, to avoid them being unpicked.

Corbyn acknowledged the negotiations were “serious, detailed and ongoing”, but warned that some ministers, including the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, appeared to be resisting the necessary compromises.

“If the government is serious, the red lines must move and we must see a real compromise,” he said.

A Downing Street spokesman said that if both sides could not agree a deal, then talks with Labour would not continue indefinitely. Party leaders would instead attempt to agree a way to get a parliamentary majority for a Brexit outcome.

“Bluntly, we will not continue to talk for the sake of it,” said the spokesman. “But we believe the discussion and dialogue we are having is valuable and we want to see that continue while we think we are making progress.

“We are invested in this and she told fellow leaders last night ... this is not the usual way of doing things in British politics.”

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A plan has been discussed with Labour, though not agreed, to bring forward the withdrawal agreement bill, which could be a way to attempt to bypass a meaningful vote in parliament and allow MPs to amend the bill as a route to try to achieve a parliamentary majority.

If talks on a cross-party deal founder, the two sides could also discuss holding a series of votes, aimed at identifying a form of future relationship with the EU that could command a majority.

No 10 said it would not be a waste of time for MPs to now have a short break from Westminster. “Fundamentally, people could use a break,” the spokesman said. “Everybody should take a break in a way they feel is most appropriate.”

Asked if the PM is planning on taking a holiday, Downing Street hinted that a break could be on the cards. “We will come back to you with her plans,” her spokesman said.

