Jeremy Corbyn: I will do everything necessary to stop a no-deal Brexit
3 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has said he is prepared to do "everything necessary" to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
His comment will be seen as an olive branch ahead of talks with other opposition party leaders on how to prevent the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.
The Labour leader has so-far failed to gather support for his plan to hold a no confidence vote in Boris Johnson's government, before installing himself as temoporary Prime Minister in order to extend Article 50 and call a fresh general election.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, who will be among those attending Tuesday's talks, has insisted the proposal risks "jeopardising" attempts to block no-deal.
Instead, she and other anti-Brexit MPs would rather see Parliament pass legislation forcing Boris Johnson to extend the Article 50 process.
Writing in The Indpependent, Mr Corbyn accused the Prime Minister of "cosying up" to Donald Trump as he warned the NHS would be left at "mercy" of big American corporations in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
And the Labour boss vowed to "do anything" to stop Mr Johnson from pushing through a "banker's Brexit".
"Our country is heading into a crisis this autumn, with Boris Johnson’s Tories driving us towards a no-deal cliff edge," he said. "No deal would destroy people’s jobs, push up food prices in the shops and open our NHS to takeover by US private corporations.
"We will do everything necessary to stop a disastrous no deal for which this government has no mandate. That’s why on Tuesday I am hosting a meeting of opposition parties to discuss how we can stop Johnson’s reckless rush for a no-deal Brexit. The stakes couldn’t be higher."
He added: "The Tories are going out with their begging bowl to billionaire hedge funders to raise cash for an autumn general election.
"The chaos and uncertainty caused by a no-deal Brexit is a potential goldmine for speculators betting against the pound.
"They will use the crisis to push through policies that benefit them and hurt everyone else, as they have since 2010.
"They will aim to reduce the power of workers, protections for consumers, the tax bills of bankers, the richest and big corporations, as well as the regulators that are supposed to stop them abusing their power."
"Chaos, delay and uncertainty"
Pro-Remain Tory MPs opposed to Mr Corbyn becoming PM, including Dame Caroline Spelman and Dominic Grieve, have already said they would not be able to attend the all-party meeting.
In a letter to the Labour leader ahead of the summit, Ms Swinson said: "Insisting you lead that emergency government will therefore jeapordise the chances of a no-confidence vote gaining enough support to pass in the first place.
"As you have said that you would do anything to avoid a no deal I hope you are open to a discussion about how conceding this point may open the door to a no-confidence vote succeeding. Its success must be the priority."
Responding to Mr Corbyn's comments, Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly, said: "The alternative to delivering Brexit is Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street, a man who would wreck the economy, break up our Union, soft on crime and won't stand up for Britain.
"All Corbyn offers is chaos, delay and uncertainty."
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