Labour’s leader said Theresa May is forcing MPs to choose between ‘the devil or the deep blue sea’
Jeremy Corbyn demanded Theresa May recall parliament before the end of its Christmas break on Friday.
He accused the prime minister of trying to “run down the clock” and forcing MPs to choose between “the devil or the deep blue sea.”
MPs are scheduled to return to the Commons after a two week break on January 7, beginning a debate on May’s Brexit deal on Wednesday the 9th.
However the Labour leader told the Independent that it was entirely up to Theresa May when parliament returns and urged her to do so on January 2.
He said: “I want us to have a vote as soon as possible, that’s what I’ve been saying for the past two weeks, and if that means recalling parliament to have the vote let’s have it.
“But it looks to me the government has once again reneged on that and tried to put it back another week.
“What I suspect is that it’s a completely cynical manoeuvre to run down the clock and offer MPs the choice of the devil or the deep blue sea.”
No 10 called Corbyn’s request a “silly demand” and said: “Following debate in the Commons, in the week commencing 14 January MPs will vote on the Brexit deal.
“Instead of making silly demands, Jeremy Corbyn should be honest with voters that he has no alternative plan, and only intends to frustrate Brexit – ultimately betraying the referendum result.”
Jeremy Corbyn ruining Tory plans for a quiet Christmas recess like pic.twitter.com/7vOpYgZxDG
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) December 28, 2018
Corbyn would not say whether Labour would extend Article 50, to provide more time for negotiation but keep the UK in the EU for longer, when asked.
