Labour dismisses national unity government to deliver Brexit as 'establishment stitch-up'
2 min read
A cross-party government of national unity to deliver Brexit would be "an establishment stitch-up" which would ignore the views of ordinary voters, Labour has said.
Conservative MP Anna Soubry has become the latest big name to throw her weight behind the idea, claiming the current political system was struggling to cope.
Theresa May needed the suport of four Labour MPs to avoid a crushing defeat to her Brexit plans in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister continues to come under huge pressure from MPs on both wings of her party amid speculation she could soon face a leadership challenge.
Appearing on Radio 4's Today programme, Remain-backing former minister Ms Soubry said traditional party lines should be abandoned.
She said: "I would reach beyond [the Labour frontbench] and I would encompass Plaid Cymru, the SNP and other sensible pragmatic people who believe in putting this country’s interests first and foremost."
She added: "I think we need a government of national unity, actually."
Her comments echoed those of Tory grandee Nicholas Soames, who told Channel 4 News: "I must say if I had my way we would have a national government to deal with this. It is the most serious problem this country has faced since the war."
But a spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said: "Labour would have nothing to do with some kind of establishment stitch-up to deny a proper voice for the majority of voters in this country."
A pro-Remain Labour MP also told PoliticsHome he did not support a link-up with other parties. He said: "The Lib Dems essentially did that with the Tories and look what happened to them."
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