Corbyn says Tories have delivered 'more Brexit delays than Northern Rail'

The Labour leader says MPs need to see the government's negotiating strategy before they vote on the amended withdrawal bill.

By Alix Culbertson, political reporter

Wednesday 6 June 2018 17:22, UK

Jeremy Corbyn questioned when the Government's Brexit white paper would be published
Image: Jeremy Corbyn questioned when the Government's Brexit white paper would be published
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Jeremy Corbyn has compared the government's Brexit strategy to the chaos on Britain's railways.

The Labour leader said there have been "more Brexit delays than Northern Rail" and asked Theresa May to confirm whether the government's Brexit white paper will be published before MPs vote on the EU withdrawal bill next Thursday.

But despite facing repeated calls from Mr Corbyn other Labour MPs during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) to name a date, Mrs May refused to confirm when the negotiating strategy will be published.

It was widely concluded that Wednesday's PMQs was one of the worst for Mrs May in months and one of the best for Mr Corbyn.

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Corbyn's Northern Rail jibe

Concluding his attack on the government's handling of Brexit, Mr Corbyn said: "When it comes to Brexit, this government has delivered more delays and cancellations than Northern Rail.

"The white paper is delayed, the customs proposal is cancelled and it's ripped up its timetable - just like our shambolic privatised railways.

"This threatens our jobs and our communities.

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Mrs May had previously promised the "detailed, ambitious and precise" white paper would be published in June.

However, she is now facing not just questions from the opposition over its publication, but from her own MPs.

Brexit Secretary David Davis is reported to be threatening a Cabinet protest as top ministers are believed to have been banned from seeing it despite it reportedly being ready.

Mrs May said on Wednesday: "We want to publish a white paper that goes beyond the speeches and papers that have been given and published so far, and goes into more details and ensure we are able to negotiate with our European Commission colleagues on the basis this is an ambitious deal."

Theresa May refused to give a publication date for the Brexit white paper
Image: Theresa May refused to give a publication date for the Brexit white paper

The PM added that if Mr Corbyn wants to "enter the debate in the "right spirit" he should answer whether Labour will rule out calling for a second referendum.

Speaking about the timing of the white paper, Conservative MP Gillian Keegan told Paste BN: "Clearly it has to come, the audience is the EU and the negotiating team, it's more detail about what the negotiations are.

"All this discussion is not the negotiation, the referendum has happened, we have to get on with what the British people have voted for."