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May to make 'bold offer' to MPs to seal Brexit plan approval

MPs have rejected the deal Theresa May struck with Brussels three times, forcing Britain's EU departure date to pushed back
MPs have rejected the deal Theresa May struck with Brussels three times, forcing Britain's EU departure date to pushed back

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she intends to make what she describes as a "bold offer" to the British Parliament to encourage MPs to approve her Brexit plan next month.

It is expected that her Withdrawal Agreement Bill will include provisions on future customs arrangements with the EU and on Northern Ireland, including the use of technology to avoid the need for border controls with the Republic.

"I still believe there is a majority in parliament to be won for leaving with a deal," Mrs May wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper.

Extra protections for workers are also expected to be part of the proposed legislation.

However,  the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has said has it is unlikely that Mrs May's initiative will succeed. 

In an interview with The Andrew Marr Programme on the BBC, Mr Corybn said he was not optimistic that Mrs May's plan would come to fruition.

"We haven't seen whatever the new Bill is going to be yet but nothing I've heard leads me to believe it's fundamentally any different to the previous Bill that's been put forward, so as of now we're not supporting it," said Mr Corbyn.

Tomorrow, British cabinet ministers will begin discussions on a package of measures to be included in the bill aimed at securing cross-party support.

The bill is needed to ratify the divorce agreement struck with the European Union.

MPs have rejected the deal Mrs May struck with Brussels three times, forcing Britain's EU departure date to pushed back from 29 March to 12 April and again to 31 October.

On Thursday, Mrs May agreed to set out a timetable for her departure following the vote in the week beginning 3 June, regardless of whether MPs back her deal at the fourth time of asking.

It is thought that she will trigger a contest for the leadership of her governing Conservative Party once the bill either falls or completes all of its stages through parliament.