The talks led by British leader Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn's Labour, which began in early April to break the Brexit deadlock, have not yet produced the hoped-for results, with Labour accusing Mrs May's government of continuing to refuse to review its red lines and change the political declaration accompanying the withdrawal agreement, The Guardian reported on Tuesday 23 April.
Talks resumed between the two parties on Tuesday 23 April, with Mrs May's policy still to have the agreement on the exit from the EU approved by the House of Commons before 23 May (which has been rejected three times already) in order to avoid having to conduct the European elections in the country.
According to The Guardian, based on Labour sources, Mrs May's government still refuses to revise its red lines on this political declaration, which precludes at this stage a Customs Union and participation in the Single Market, but in exchange would offer “alternative means of giving assurances” on concerns raised by Labour such as environmental standards or workers' rights.
A delicate position for Mrs May
According to the Financial Times, the ball is in any case returning to the court of Mrs May's Tories and a handful of elected officials are trying to change the internal rules to remove Mrs May from office this summer. On Tuesday 23 April, after the Easter break, she has reportedly been warned that her place will be challenged without a credible and effective plan to carry out Brexit.
The possible amendment of the Tories' rules allowing for a more rapid change of Prime Minister comes from the 1922 committee led by Graham Brady, who stated on 23 April, when the work of the MPs resumed, that he would be “delighted if she [Mrs May] announced today that she is resigning; we could then proceed to an election to choose a new leader”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)