Jeremy Corbyn has offered to back a revised version of Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the clearest indication yet that the Labour leader is ready to work with the prime minister to deliver Brexit.
In a letter to May published on Wednesday evening, the Labour leader says he will back May if she drops her red lines and accepts the United Kingdom retaining closer ties with the European Union.
Significantly, the letter says that Corbyn has ditched the “six tests” which were previously Labour policy on Brexit, and replaced them with five new demands that are theoretically easier for May to achieve.
Corbyn’s letter is the most explicit statement yet that is in favour of a soft Brexit. It also dashed hopes among many Labour MPs and activists that he will switch the party towards backing a second referendum.
Corbyn signalled that he would be willing to back the current Withdrawal Agreement as long as the accompanying Political Declaration was altered to signify that the UK was opting for a softer Brexit.