Labour has said the Commons should be able to vote on whether to hold a second referendum in an amendment the party submitted on Monday night to Theresa May’s Brexit update.

It is the first time the party has asked MPs to formally consider a second poll, although the carefully worded compromise amendment did not commit the party’s leadership to backing a referendum if such a vote were to take place.

The wording called for May’s government to hold a vote on two options – its alternative Brexit plan and whether to legislate “to hold a public vote on a deal or a proposition” that is supported by a majority in the Commons.

The intervention came as the party’s leadership seeks to deal with divisions between Jeremy Corbyn and some of the leader’s closest allies who are sceptical about a second referendum and those who are more enthusiastic such as Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer.

The party’s alternative Brexit plan, which would be the subject of a separate vote if the amendment were carried, proposes that the UK remain in a post-Brexit customs union with the European Union and have a strong relationship with the single market. Citizens’ rights and consumer standards would be harmonised with the EU’s.

Corbyn said: “Our amendment will allow MPs to vote on options to end this Brexit deadlock and prevent the chaos of a no-deal. It is time for Labour’s alternative plan to take centre stage, while keeping all options on the table, including the option of a public vote.”

But second referendum campaigners were last night gearing up to criticise the alternative Brexit plan. The People’s Vote campaign said that it was one of a series of Brexit promises – like no-deal – that were being made with “little regard for what could actually be delivered”.

The cross-party group, supported by dozens of Labour MPs, posed five questions that it believes Corbyn’s Brexit model struggles to answer, escalating tensions between campaigners and the party’s leadership.

A 16-page evaluation placed Labour’s plan on a par with both the no-deal option supported by hard Brexit Tories and the Norway-plus customs union alternative, in that they were no better than pledges made by the leave campaign at the time of the EU referendum.

“All three alternative plans,” the analysis added “share many similarities with the arguments made for Brexit in 2016 when big promises were made with little regard for what could actually be delivered.”

It quoted an interview with Corbyn in which he said he would be opposed to any deal that would make the UK poorer, and then cited a report by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research that said “every form of Brexit will damage the UK economy”.

The analysis also asked whether the UK would “have any say over its trade policy” under Labour’s policy of remaining in a customs union with some decision-making power over future EU trade agreements.

The document, whose authors are not named, said “it is almost inconceivable that the EU would agree” – citing the EU’s Lisbon treaty – and that “being in a customs union without a say would be very damaging” because the UK would be force to liberalise markets to third countries on a non-reciprocal basis.

Tensions within Labour have been rising as MPs who support a second referendum want to pressurise Corbyn into supporting another Brexit vote, in line with the party’s policy to explore it as an option if it cannot secure an early election.

A total of 71 Labour MPs declared they supported a second referendum last week on the morning of the day the party lost a vote of no confidence in Theresa May’s government, meaning that an early election was unlikely.

The group is planning to take the argument further at a news conference on Tuesday, fronted by Labour MPs David Lammy and Bridget Phillipson with Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson and Caroline Lucas, the Green party only MP.

Labour backbencher and second referendum supporter David Lammy said the amendment represented “a big step forward” but added that the party’s alternative Brexit proposal “deserves to be properly scrutinised” now that Corbyn wanted it to be centre stage.

• This article was amended on 22 January 2019. An earlier version incorrectly referred to Caroline Lucas as the Green party’s leader in Westminster. She no longer has that role, however she is currently the party’s only MP.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - British opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn moved a step closer to paving the way for another referendum on European Union membership by trying to use parliament to grab control of Brexit from Prime Minister Theresa May.

With the clock ticking down to March 29, the date set in law for Brexit, the United Kingdom is in the deepest political crisis in half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the European project it joined in 1973.

Since May’s divorce deal with the EU was rejected by 432-202 lawmakers last week, the biggest defeat in modern British history, lawmakers have been trying to plot a course out of the crisis, yet no option has the support of -seat parliament.

Labour put forward an amendment seeking to force the government to give parliament time to consider and vote on options to prevent a “no deal” exit including a customs union with the EU, and “a public vote on a deal”.

“It is time for Labour’s alternative plan to take centre stage, while keeping all options on the table, including the option of a public vote,” said Corbyn, who put his name to the amendment.

It was the first time the Labour leadership had put forward in parliament the possibility of a second vote, which was welcomed by some opponents of Brexit.

However, the party said it did not mean it supported another referendum and lawmakers cautioned that the amendment would not garner the support of parliament.

Clarity from London is some way off: lawmakers have so far put forward six amendments with proposals for a delay to Brexit, a new vote and even for parliament to grab control of the process. They will vote on the next steps on Jan. 29.

Beyond the intrigues of British politics, the future of Brexit remains deeply unpredictable with options ranging from a disorderly exit that would spook investors across the world to a new referendum that could reverse the whole process.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde told CNBC on Tuesday that a no-deal Brexit was “obviously the worst case scenario”.

Ever since the United Kingdom voted by 52-48 percent to leave the EU in June 2016, Britain’s leaders have repeatedly failed to reach a consensus on how to leave the EU.

May on Monday proposed tweaking her deal, a bid to win over rebel Conservative lawmakers and the Northern Irish party which props up her government, but Labour said May was in denial about the crushing defeat of her plans.

She refused to rule out a no-deal Brexit, warning that another referendum would strengthen the hand of those seeking to break up the United Kingdom and could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in democracy.

With May’s Brexit policy in tatters, lawmakers in the British parliament are trying to wrest control of Brexit, though there is no clear majority for an alternative to May’s deal.

The EU was not impressed with May’s speech on Monday, as highlighted by the fact that none of its top officials nor its Brexit negotiator made any comments - positive or negative.

German Justice Minister Katarina Barley said on Tuesday she was disappointed by British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan to break a deadlock over Brexit and suggested Britain hold a second referendum.

Without a approved deal or an alternative, the world’s fifth largest economy will move to basic World Trade Organization rules on March 29 — a nightmare scenario for manufacturers dependent on delicate supply chains which stretch across Europe and beyond.

Company chiefs are shocked at the political crisis and say it has already damaged Britain’s reputation as Europe’s pre-eminent destination for foreign investment.

“Brexit is the most stupid economic decision for a long time, the worst thing that can happen,” Kasper Rorsted, boss of German sportswear firm Adidas, told the Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Asked if Brexit could be averted, he said: “I think the train has already left the station. Emotionally, I hope that all parties can come to their senses.”

Supporters of Brexit say that while there may be some short-term disruption, the warnings of chaos are overblown and that in the long term, Britain will thrive if it cuts loose from what they cast as a doomed German-dominated experiment in European unity.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s only options are a second Brexit referendum or forging a close economic relationship with the European Union, the main opposition Labour Party said on Sunday.

Labour’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, told the BBC he was open to extending Article 50 if that meant Britain avoided leaving the EU without a deal.

Prime Minister Theresa May returns to parliament on Monday to make a statement on how she will proceed with Britain’s departure from the European Union after her deal was defeated by lawmakers last week.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - British opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn moved a step closer to paving the way for another referendum on European Union membership by trying to use parliament to grab control of Brexit from Prime Minister Theresa May.

With the clock ticking down to March 29, the date set in law for Brexit, the United Kingdom is in the deepest political crisis in half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the European project it joined in 1973.

After May’s Brexit divorce deal was rejected by 432-202 lawmakers last week, the biggest defeat in modern British history, some lawmakers are trying to take control of Brexit from May’s weakened minority government.

Labour put forward an amendment seeking to force the government to give parliament time to consider and vote on options to prevent a ‘no deal’ exit - a course May has repeatedly refused to rule out.

Among the options, Labour said, should be a permanent customs union with the EU and “a public vote on a deal” - both proposals that May has ruled out.

“It is time for Labour’s alternative plan to take centre stage, while keeping all options on the table, including the option of a public vote,” Corbyn said.

“Our amendment will allow MPs to vote on options to end this Brexit deadlock and prevent the chaos of a no deal.”

However, Labour’s business spokeswoman Rebecca Long-Bailey said the amendment did not mean that the party supported a second vote and merely reflected its existing policy.

“If it was passed, the amendment, and it went to a vote on these specific issues then that would be a decision for the party to take at the time,” she told BBC radio.

As the British parliament, which traces its roots through a 1,000 years of history, tries to avoid what most lawmakers think would be a disorderly Brexit without an approved deal, there is still no clear majority for an alternative option.

Lawmakers will debate and vote on the next steps on Jan. 29.

May on Monday proposed tweaking her deal, a bid to win over rebel Conservative lawmakers and the Northern Irish party which props up her government, but Labour said May was in denial about the crushing defeat of her plans.

She said another referendum would strengthen the hand of those seeking to break up the United Kingdom and could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in democracy.

Ever since the UK voted by 52-48 percent to leave the EU in June 2016, British politicians have failed to find agreement on how or even whether to leave the EU.

Without a approved deal or an alternative, the world’s fifth largest economy will move to basic World Trade Organisation rules on March 29 — a nightmare scenario for manufacturers dependent on delicate supply chains which stretch across Europe and beyond.

Company chiefs are shocked at the political crisis and say it has already damaged Britain’s reputation as Europe’s pre-eminent destination for foreign investment.

“Brexit is the most stupid economic decision for a long time, the worst thing that can happen,” Kasper Rorsted, boss of German sportswear firm Adidas, told the Suddeutsche Zeitung in an interview.

Asked if Brexit could be averted, he said: “I think the train has already left the station. Emotionally, I hope that all parties can come to their senses.”

Supporters of Brexit say that while there may be some short term disruption, the warnings of chaos are overblown and that in the long term, the United Kingdom will thrive if it cuts loose from what they cast as a doomed German-dominated experiment in European unity.</s>Britain's main opposition Labour party has proposed MPs be allowed to vote on a second referendum as part of a series of options to stop a "no deal" Brexit.

A parliamentary amendment tabled late on Monday would require ministers to allow time in the House of Commons to discuss ways to prevent Britain leaving the EU in March with no deal.

These options include renegotiating Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement to include a new UK-EU customs union and a "strong relationship" with the EU's single market.

They also should include "legislating to hold a public vote on a deal or a proposition" that has the support of a majority of MPs.

MPs roundly rejected May's Brexit deal last week but she still believes it can be saved and has promised to return to Brussels to secure further concessions that might win over her critics.

She will return to the Commons next Tuesday when MPs will have a chance to debate her approach and vote on amendments offering a different way forward.

The Labour amendment has little chance of success as it would need the support of members of May's Conservative party, who are unlikely to back a plan proposed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

But the very fact that a second referendum is now being openly discussed was welcomed by campaigners who want to stop Brexit altogether.

"It is a big step forward that for the first time my party is acknowledging in a parliamentary amendment that a People's Vote may be the only way forward," Labour MP David Lammy said.

There are other amendments that do have the support of pro-European Conservative MPs, including ones that seek to stop a potentially hugely disruptive "no deal" Brexit by seeking to delay the process.

Not all amendments will go to a vote. This is a decision for the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, who will make his selection next week.</s>LONDON, Jan 22 — British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit yesterday by proposing to seek further concessions from the European Union on a plan to prevent customs checks on the Irish border.

With little time left until the United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29, there is no agreement in London on how and even whether it should leave the world's biggest trading bloc, and a growing chance of a dramatic "no-deal" exit with no provisions to soften the economic shock.

After her Brexit divorce deal with Brussels was rejected by 432-202 lawmakers last Tuesday, the biggest defeat in modern British history, May has been searching for a way to get a deal through.

She told parliament she could not take a “no-deal” Brexit off the table as there was no approved alternative, and the EU would be unlikely to postpone Britain's exit date - determined by the “Article 50” withdrawal notice — without an exit plan.

“No-deal will only be taken off the table by either revoking Article 50, which turns back the results of the referendum — the government will not do that — or by having a deal, and that is what we are trying to work out,” May said.

She said another referendum would strengthen the hand of those seeking to break up the United Kingdom and could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in democracy.

May vowed to be “more flexible” with lawmakers in trying to agree changes to the Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to ensure there will be no return to border checks between the British province and Ireland.

“I will then take the conclusions of those discussions back to the EU,” May said. “My focus continues to be on what is needed to secure the support of this House in favour of a Brexit deal with the EU.”

Hardline supporters of Brexit in May's Conservative party object above all to the fact that Britain cannot unilaterally end the backstop, which would keep it in a customs union with the EU until an alternative way of ensuring an open border is found. Brussels says this provision is non-negotiable.

May's task is gargantuan: Convince the EU to reopen negotiations and then secure enough changes to gain the support of at least 115 lawmakers who previously voted against the deal.

The EU, which has an economy more than six times the size of the United Kingdom, says it wants an orderly exit, but senior officials have expressed frustration at London's crisis.

German Europe Minister Michael Roth said yesterday that even William Shakespeare would not have been able to think up a Brexit tragedy of such drama.

Amid fears that the world's fifth largest economy could drop out of the EU without a deal, some lawmakers are planning to wrest control of the process from the government.

The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the bloc was ready to work on the political declaration on future EU-UK ties, but that the withdrawal deal already agreed, which it accompanies, was the best one possible.

In a sign of how grave the political crisis has become, May was forced to deny a Daily Telegraph report that she was considering amending the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. An open border with Ireland is widely seen as crucial to maintaining this peace.

Ireland's European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said Dublin would not engage in bilateral talks on Brexit, and would negotiate only as part of the remaining EU.

Ireland also rejected a proposal by Poland's foreign minister that the backstop be time-limited.

The 650-seat parliament is deeply divided over Brexit, with different factions supporting a wide range of options including leaving without a deal, holding a second referendum and seeking a customs union with the EU.

Lawmakers will debate and vote on the next steps on Jan. 29, and before then they can put forward amendments to May's proposals.

The opposition Labour Party put forward an amendment seeking to force the government to give parliament time to consider and vote on options to prevent a "no deal" exit. Among them should be a permanent customs union with the EU and a second referendum on Brexit, the party said — both proposals that May has ruled out.

May had earlier chided Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for not taking part in cross-party talks, but he said May was in denial.

“Her current deal is undeliverable,” he said.

Hilary Benn, a Labour lawmaker who chairs parliament's Brexit committee, said: "While her door may have been open, her mind has remained closed because she has rejected stopping us leaving the EU with no deal, even though she knows it would be disastrous."

Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of anti-EU lawmakers in May’s party, said Britain was most likely to leave without a deal.

But if the backstop were scrapped, he said most of the opposition from Conservative eurosceptics would be removed.

Sterling, which has flip-flopped over the past two-and-a-half years on different signals about the course of Brexit, rose slightly to around US$1.29 on hopes of a compromise. On the day of the referendum in 2016, it was trading at US$1.50. — Reuters</s>Theresa May has ruled out seeking changes to the Belfast Agreement as an alternative to the Northern Ireland backstop, affirming her government’s commitment to upholding every part of it. In a statement to the House of Commons about Brexit on Monday, the prime minister dismissed a report that she saw amending the agreement as part of the solution to the impasse over the backstop.

“All of us agree that as we leave the European Union, we must fully respect the Belfast Agreement and not allow the creation of a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland – nor indeed a border down the Irish Sea. And I want to be absolutely clear, in the light of media stories this morning, this government will not reopen the Belfast Agreement. I have never even considered doing so – and neither would I,” she said.

The prime minister’s official spokesman also dismissed a report that she was seeking a bilateral agreement between Dublin and London as an alternative to the backstop. In identifying the backstop as the focus of her efforts to find a majority in parliament for a Brexit deal, Mrs May rejected calls to rule out leaving the European Union without a deal.

“We need to be honest with the British people about what that means. The right way to rule out no deal is for this House to approve a deal with the European Union. That is what this government is seeking to achieve. The only other guaranteed way to avoid a no deal Brexit is to revoke article 50 – which would mean staying in the EU,” she said.

Mrs May said that extending the article 50 negotiating deadline would not rule out a no-deal Brexit but would simply defer it. She also rejected a second referendum, warning that it could damage social cohesion and undermine trust in the democratic process.

“I fear a second referendum would set a difficult precedent that could have significant implications for how we handle referendums in this country – not least, strengthening the hand of those campaigning to break up our United Kingdom. It would require an extension of article 50. We would very likely have to return a new set of MEPs to the European Parliament in May. And I also believe that there has not yet been enough recognition of the way that a second referendum could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy,” she said.

She announced she was scrapping a £65 fee for EU nationals wanting to remain in the UK after Brexit, promised to guarantee workers’ rights and environmental safeguards and said she would continue talks to find “the broadest possible consensus” on the way forward.

The prime minister said she would continue to meet MPs from all parties ahead of a vote next week when MPs will be able to table amendments backing alternatives to her deal. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has refused to meet Mrs May until she rules out leaving the EU without a deal, said the meetings were phoney.

“The prime minister’s invitations to talks have been exposed as a PR sham. Every opposition party politician came out of those meetings with the same response. Contrary to what the prime minister has just said, there was no flexibility; there were no negotiations; nothing had changed,” he said. – Additional reporting: PA</s>
• Theresa May has set out her Brexit plan B to parliament after suffering a historic House of Commons defeat on her deal.
• MPs from across the house have brought forward a series of amendments to May’s plan which seek to seize control of the process.
• Among the amendments which could be selected for a vote by the Commons speaker John Bercow are plans to delay Brexit, hold a second referendum, or give MPs control of the entire process.
• The amendments will be put to a vote on January 29.

LONDON – After her Brexit deal was defeated by a crushing 230-vote margin last week, Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her Brexit “plan B” on Monday, which turns out to be rather similar to her “plan A.”

She plans to return to Brussels where she will once again ask for concessions from the EU before putting her plans back before the House of Commons next week.

The UK parliament has different ideas however. MPs from across the House have brought forward a series of amendments to May’s plan which, if passed, could fundamentally reshape the course of Brexit, wrestling much of the prime minister’s control away from her and blocking a no-deal Brexit.

So what are the amendments, what do they mean, and how likely are they to pass? Here are the most important ones explained.

The UK is currently set to leave the EU on March 29 2019 whether it has secured an exit deal or not and May has also insisted that Britain will leave by that date with or without a deal. However, an amendment brought by Labour MP Yvette Cooper is designed to prevent this.

Cooper’s amendment would allow parliamentary time for a bill – also tabled by Yvette Cooper – which would allow MPs to vote on delaying Brexit if parliament has not approved a deal by the last week of February.

The bill would not automatically require the government to seek an Article 50 extension. Instead, it would give the government until February 26 to secure a deal which is accepted by parliament.

Here’s the key section of the bill:

If, before 26 February 2019, the House of Commons has not passed a resolution approving the negotiated withdrawal agreement and the framework for the future relationship for the purposes of section 13(1)(b) of the European Union 5 (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“the 2018 Act”), the Prime Minister must, not later than 26 February, move a motion in the House of Commons in the form set out in subsection (2).

That means that MPs could vote on an extension of the two-year Article 50 process should the bill pass. But the bill would itself be difficult to bring into law, because legislation has to pass between the House of Lords and House of Commons several times before it enters statute books and there is not much time for this to happen.

However, the proposed bill has the backing of high-profile Conservative and Labour Remainers. Nick Boles, Nicky Morgan, Stephen Kinnock, and Hillary Benn have all put their name to the Cooper amendment which will be voted on on Tuesday January 29.

Whether the amendment passes is likely to depend on whether the Labour frontbench supports it. Cooper appears confident that they will, and shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman said this week it is “absolutely something we’ll seriously consider.”

Even more radical than Cooper’s amendment is one tabled by Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general.

The amendment would allow MPs to seize control of the Commons timetable if just 300 MPs – not even a majority of the 650 MPs – voted for it.

Usually the government controls the agenda in the Commons, which prevents backbenchers from tabling bills then trying to force them through parliament.

But Grieve’s plan would allow formal business proposed by at least 300 MPs – from at least 5 parties and including 10 Tories – to be debated as the first item of Commons business the next day.

Grieve said it would allow MPs to vote on alternatives to May’s defeated deal.

Even if selected by the House of Commons speaker for a vote, Grieve’s amendment would struggle to be accepted because Labour is unlikely to back such a radical plan. The leadership reportedly fears that it could hamstring a future Labour government.

Give MPs a vote on a new deal or a referendum

Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench has brought forward a less radical amendment which states parliament should have a vote on all possible Brexit options, including a second referendum.

At the top of the list of options would be Labour’s own Brexit policy – permanent membership of the customs union. The Labour leadership believes the amendment is in line with the party’s conference motion, which called for Labour to keep all options, including a second referendum, on the table.

However, the plan is not backed by Tory Remainers, who are unlikely to hand an easy victory to Corbyn in any circumstances. Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who backs a ‘People’s Vote’, told Business Insider: “The Labour amendment is not a People’s Vote amendment. The front bench is continuing to use creative language to duck the decision about backing a people’s vote.”

An amendment brought forward by Labour MPs Stella Creasy, Lisa Nandy and others would force the government to delay Brexit pending the creation of a new “citizens assembly,” who would decide what to do next. The assembly would consist of “250 members comprising a representative sample of the population to consider the process in connection with the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, to make recommendations and to report to the House of Commons.”

This is an interesting idea. However, if 650 experienced legislators in the House of Commons can’t agree a way forward, it’s difficult to see why 250 randomly selected members of the public would fare better.</s>Secretary General of the OECD Jose Angel Gurria told BBC News global economies are “absolutely” ready for a no deal Brexit. He added: “What’s the worst scenario? A no deal? WTO rules? The whole world is running by WTO rules these days. It’s unfortunate that the UK is leaving the EU but that was the will of the British people, so, we take our bumps and we roll with it.”

“The UK is a member of the OECD and we are going to make sure that this happens in the most seamless possible way and that the costs are lowered. Despite assurances from MP’s and Brexiteers that a no deal Brexit is not only achievable but beneficial for the UK not everyone is convinced. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of the United Kingdom Amber Rudd has warned Theresa May up to 40 Ministers could quit the Government unless they are allowed to vote for a motion which could delay Brexit, according to reports. A proposal has been tabled by Tory Nick Boles and Labour’s Yvette Cooper to extend Article 50 if a deal with Brussels can’t be agreed by the end of February.

This would push the date when the UK formally quits the EU back to the end of the year. A free vote would allow Ministers to vote for the motion without having to resign. Following Mrs May’s vote being voted down, the Prime Minister opted for cross-party talks in a hope of ending the parliament Brexit deadlock. Mrs May reached out to opposition leader Labour Jeremy Corbyn to discuss delivering Brexit but Mr Corbyn refused to meet unless she categorically took “no deal off the table” As March 29 quickly approaches supporters of a second referendum have reemphasised the solution it could provide in providing certainty for the future of Brexit.

The Prime Minister has argued that a second referendum would threaten democracy, halt the Brexit process and shake the people's faith in Parliamentarians. Mrs May revealed the outline of her new Brexit plan on Monday but was widely mocked as it was accused of being very similar to her original proposal. Mrs May responded to the criticism by stating: “We need to see where we can ensure the support of this house, and then take that forward to the European Union.”</s>The Latest: Labour deputy says party must join Brexit talks

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Britain's exit from the European Union (all times local):

The deputy leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party says it has an obligation to join talks with Prime Minister Theresa May if she is ready to hold an "intelligent conversation" about Brexit.

Tom Watson said Saturday the party is obligated to take part out of respect for the democratic process.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to join the crisis talks, which are aimed at building a consensus in Parliament. Corbyn insists Labour will not take part unless May first rules out a "no-deal" Brexit, which she says she doesn't have the power to do.

Corbyn is the only party leader who has refused to participate in the talks, which thus far have not produced a breakthrough in the parliamentary situation.

Romania's foreign ministry says Britain has offered reassurances that the half a million Romanian citizens in the U.K. can continue living there regardless of the outcome of Brexit.

The ministry said Saturday European Affairs Minister George Ciamba spoke to British Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan on Friday about the situation of Romanians working or studying in the U.K.

The ministry said Duncan "reiterated that regardless of the outcome of Brexit, the rights of Romanian citizens in Britain would be respected."

There has been uncertainty about what will happen to the many European migrants in Britain when the country leaves the European Union on March 29.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is suggesting it may be possible to give Britain more time to leave the European Union if it comes up with a good strategy, saying a no-deal Brexit would be bad for everyone.

Kurz is quoted by Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper Saturday saying that "If London presents an orderly strategy and plan, a postponement of the exit date by a couple of months is conceivable."

Kurz, whose country turned over the rotating EU presidency to Romania in December, says that "Britain is now in the process of defining its ideas."

As it stands, Britain will leave the EU without an agreement on March 29 unless its Parliament approves a deal before then.

Kurz says "one thing is certain: a hard, disorderly Brexit would harm us all."

Britain's Labour Party is calling for an "open and frank debate" on the government's stalled Brexit plan but still won't meet with Prime Minister Theresa May.

The main opposition party's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer plans to use a speech Saturday to say it is now up to Parliament to take the tough decisions needed to break the impasse.

May's withdrawal plan from the European Union was soundly rejected in Parliament this week, leading to crisis talks before her return to Parliament Monday with amended plans.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn refuses to take part in the talks until May removes the possibility of a "no-deal" departure from the table.

He said in a Friday night letter to May that the talks are just a delaying tactic.
The Labour Party proposes an amendment to the Brexit deal which would require a second referendum before the United Kingdom fully exits the European Union.