Brexit breakthrough? Optimism at cross-party talks
Labour and Conservative negotiators hint discussions may be moving towards compromise

Cross-party Brexit talks are moving towards a possible compromise, according to reports, with both Labour and Conservative sources talking of a more positive tone in negotiations.
No fresh government offer has been tabled, says The Guardian, but several participants described “a new optimism about a change in tone” and “a feeling that there were grounds to continue discussions, a marked contrast to last week’s talks”.
David Lidington, Theresa May’s de-facto deputy, who led talks for the government yesterday, said participants had felt the “need to inject greater urgency”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The chancellor, Philip Hammond, the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, and the chief whip, Julian Smith were among those present. Those on the Labour side included were the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary.
Labour’s Sue Hayman, the shadow environment secretary, hailed “a really constructive discussion” which had been “getting much more into the nuts and bolts of the detail”. She said she now believed the government was “open to moving forward in our direction”.
However, the foreign secretary sounded less upbeat. Jeremy Hunt told The Daily Telegraph that a Brexit deal with Labour could be even less popular among Conservative MPs than the one they have already rejected on several occasions.
The result could be that “you lose more Conservative MPs than you gain Labour MPs”, he said, adding that he doubted whether Jeremy Corbyn was “serious about delivering Brexit”.
The talkss are set to continue this week and will address key areas of disagreement which have previously been avoided, including Corbyn’s desire for a customs union and dynamic alignment of workers’ rights and environmental protections.
May’s official spokesman insisted yesterday that the PM still believed it was possible to avoid holding the European elections on May 23 because the House of Commons could ratify her EU withdrawal deal in time. He said cross-party talks would continue as long as there was “still a prospect of reaching a single position to put to parliament”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster: 'a rare treat indeed'
The Week Recommends The Roadster version of Aston Martin's new Vantage coupé makes even 'the most mundane journey feel special'
-
Bad Friend: Tiffany Watt Smith explores why women abandon friendships
The Week Recommends A 'deeply researched' account of female friendship through history
-
Brazil's reborn dolls craze
Under The Radar The 'hyper-realistic' babies soaring in popularity in South American nation have spawned controversy
-
'Gen Z has been priced out of a future, so we invest in the present'
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Brexit 'reset' deal: how will it work?
In Depth Keir Stamer says the deal is a 'win-win', but he faces claims that he has 'surrendered' to Brussels on fishing rights
-
Are we entering the post-Brexit era?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer's 'big bet' with his EU reset deal is that 'nobody really cares' about Brexit any more
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?
Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
Can Starmer sell himself as the 'tough on immigration' PM?
Today's Big Question Former human rights lawyer 'now needs to own the change – not just mouth the slogans' to win over a sceptical public
-
Is the UK's two-party system finally over?
Today's Big Question 'Unprecedented fragmentation puts voters on a collision course with the electoral system'
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump