Supported May if she agreed to stay in permanent customs: Labor finance chief

Britain's opposition Labour Party's finance policy chief John McDonnell said that Prime Minister Theresa May could eventually get a deal through parliament if she negotiated a compromise with his party.

McDonnell told Reuters Labour would support May if she agreed to have to stay in a permanent customs union with the EU, a close relationship with its single market and greater protections for workers and consumers. "We will support a deal that brings the country back together, protects jobs and supports the economy," McDonnell said. "We have had that open door policy all the way through. For two years she has not contacted, not approached us, not reached out." 

May's Brexit deal suffered a crushing defeat in parliament on Tuesday, raising the prospect of the government seeking a different plan or leaving the EU with no deal at all. She will face a vote of no confidence on Wednesday evening after the process of leaving the EU was plunged further in chaos.

 

(With inputs from agencies.)