UK's Labour Party Would Negotiate, Support Brexit Deal If It Includes Worker Protections

British Prime Minister Theresa May could eventually get a Brexit deal through parliament if she negotiated a compromise with the opposition Labour Party, the second most powerful man in the party told Reuters Wednesday.

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May’s Brexit deal suffered a crushing defeat in parliament Tuesday, triggering political chaos that could lead to a disorderly exit from the EU, a reversal of the 2016 decision to leave or a compromise deal of some sort.

The Labour Party’s finance policy chief, John McDonnell, said Labour would support May if she agreed to stay in a permanent customs union with the EU, a close relationship with its single market and greater protections for workers and consumers.

“We will support a deal that brings the country back together, protects jobs and supports the economy,” McDonnell said. “We have had that open door policy all the way through. For two years she has not contacted, not approached us, not reached out.”

In an indication of the scale of the political crisis gripping Britain, May has said she is ready to reach out to opposition lawmakers in cross-party talks to find an amicable divorce deal to leave the EU.

A group of 71 Labour lawmakers Wednesday urged their leader Jeremy Corbyn to swing behind a second referendum on remaining part of the European Union.

McDonnell, who describes Karl Marx as one of his main influences, told Reuters that there was no majority in parliament for leaving the EU without a deal so the two most likely options are a compromise deal or a national election.

“It is a bizarre situation but here I am, the shadow chancellor, going on the news to steady the markets because the Tories and the existing chancellor can’t do it,” he said.

“The reason that I am trying to do that is because there are an overwhelming majority in parliament against a no deal. We will use every parliamentary mechanism to prevent a no deal.”

McDonnell, 67, said he still prefers a snap election to win for Labour its own mandate for an EU exit based around a permanent customs union with the EU, rather than holding a new Brexit referendum.

“Our view is that we have should have a general election while having a debate on Brexit amongst all the other issues as well, a much wider debate but you can also choose the team that will then do the negotiation,” he said.

McDonnell said it is increasingly likely that the government will have to ask for an extension to the formal process of leaving the EU, which is known as Article 50.

“The next fortnight will be critical,” he said. “The more time it takes up over the next couple of weeks, the more likely the government is to have to ask for an extension.”

The confidence motion, called by opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn after lawmakers rejected May’s Brexit deal by 432-202, will be held at 7:00 p.m. local time.