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JEREMY CORBYN: I've just written a letter to the prime minister, just sent it to say that these talks have now reached what I believe to be a natural conclusion. The prime minister's announced the date she's leaving. There have been increasing noises off stage by conservative cabinet ministers and others who don't agree with much of the talks or any of the discussion [? withholding, ?] so we are concluding the talks.
The government has not moved its position fundamentally. There are fundamental disagreements. We want to have a customs arrangement with the European Union that protects jobs and trade, and we want to have a dynamic relationship on rights. We've put those views very strongly to the government, and the withdrawal agreement bill will be brought forward. I don't know what the contents of that bill will be. We haven't seen it.
They've put forward views that they are going to bring these indicative votes forward. We will obviously vote accordingly on them, depending on where they fit with Labour policy.
We have entered these talks in good faith. I, in fact, asked for the talks in the first place last September, and in asking for those talks, I did so because I felt parliament had to break the logjam in some way. We've negotiated in good faith and very seriously, and put forward a lot of very detailed arguments on trade relations, on customs, on regulations, all those issues, and I think that's the responsible thing to do.
But the reality is, we cannot leave the EU without an agreement. Therefore, the government must recognise that it is going to have to come to a position that retains a customs and trade relationship with the European Union.
