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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Politics
Kate Lyons

'Jezz the two of us': what the papers said about May's overture to Corbyn

Front pages of the UK papers on Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Front pages of the UK papers on Wednesday, 3 April 2019 Composite: Various

Theresa May’s decision to meet with Jeremy Corbyn to talk about a way forward on Brexit is unsurprisingly the splash on many of the papers today.

The Metro takes the pun cake, with “It’s Jezz the two of us”, saying that May’s calls for a deal with Corbyn was a “Brexit sensation”.

The paper reports that May “could accept super-soft EU deal” and as a result had been “branded ‘Marxist collaborator’”, which seems a little extreme.

The Daily Telegraph features pictures of the 14 cabinet ministers it claims have back a no-deal Brexit, compared with 10 who support May’s deal, saying that May is going against the will of her party.

“Cabinet backs no-deal Brexit – but May turns to Corbyn instead,” is its headline.

The pro-Labour Mirror also calls move a “Brexit sensation” over its splash “Help me, Jeremy”. The paper does not cut the PM much slack, repeatedly calling her “desperate” and saying she “begged” Corbyn for assistance passing her deal.

The Express frames May’s invitation to Corbyn as a move of strength, saying May “throws down gauntlet” to the Labour leader: “It’s time for national unity … over to you Mr Corbyn”.

The Sun is unimpressed, saying that “after seven hours of cabinet lockdown May’s gone soft over Brexit mess”, asking May “Is that your bright idea?”

The Daily Mail calls May’s statement yesterday after the “marathon cabinet meeting”: “Theresa’s last stand”. The Mail says “May delays Brexit AGAIN and kills off No Deal”, meaning “Britain was heading for a soft Brexit”. The paper says May’s compromise has “enraged” Tory colleagues and reports senior figures warning that the party could be on the “verge of a split that could bring down the government”.

The Times cites a No 10 aide who says May is willing to agree to a form of customs union and close single market alignment in order to get her Brexit deal through. The move “will prompt fresh hostility from the Tory party and last night her overture was condemned as a capitulation by leading Brexiteers”. The paper quotes Boris Johnson, who is unhappy with the PM’s move, and an unnamed MP, who said he was “shell-shocked”.

The Guardian quotes Labour sources who say that while Corbyn has said he was “very happy” to meet with May, the two leaders will struggle to find an agreement in the short time period. “A deal with Corbyn would have to be hammered out this weekend,” says the paper. The Guardian also features a front page story on research that has shown that 64% of people Brexit uncertainty is bad for people’s mental health.

The FT focuses on the ruptures in the Tory party over the offer to work with Corbyn: “May inflames Tory civil war by opening door to softer Brexit”. The paper also quotes an insider who says that Philip Hammond was “shot down” after he suggested a second referendum during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

The i says May’s decision to “call in Corbyn to break impasse” paves the way for a soft Brexit and has “dismayed Brexit” but that a snap general election has been ruled out.

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