Jeremy Corbyn refused Brexit talks to save ‘breathing same air as Chuka Umunna’

Jeremy Corbyn has been told to ‘get a grip’ after he walked out of cross-party Brexit talks last night when Chuka Umunna showed up.

The Labour leader was said to have walked away when Umunna – one of eight Labour MPs to quit the party join the new Independent Group – arrived with former Tory Anna Soubry.

Umunna said the UK is in a ‘crisis situation’ and the Labour leader was ‘juvenile’ to pull out of a meeting at a time when different political groups should come together to discuss Brexit.

File photo dated 15/3/2019 of Jeremy Corbyn, who has said it is right that members of the Armed Forces are held to account for incidents during the Troubles after a British soldier was charged with murder over Bloody Sunday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday March 17, 2019. The Labour leader said the "law must apply to everyone", and denied that there was a discrepancy between the investigations into soldiers after Republican suspects were sent "comfort letters" offering effective immunity from prosecution. See PA story ULSTER Corbyn. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Labour said the terms of Corbyn’s meeting had been broken said (Picture: PA)
Embargoed to 0001 Friday March 08 File photo dated 05/03/19 of Independent Group MP Chuka Umunna, who has suggested young Britons should be forced to carry out a modern form of "national service" to break down barriers between different parts of society. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday March 8, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Independents. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Independent Group MP Chuka Umunna said it was ‘juvenile’ for Corbyn to refuse a meeting (Picture: PA)

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said: ‘It’s fairly juvenile behaviour from a leader of opposition when actually I think what people expect us to do at a time of national political crisis is to come together.

Advertisement

Advertisement

‘Credit to the Prime Minister for bringing together the representatives of all the opposition groups of the House of Commons to try to find a way forward.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

‘It’s unfathomable why Jeremy Corbyn should walk out simply because I was there representing 11 MPs.

‘In fact Anna Soubry, who is one of the group of independent MPs was also with me, and it’s very clear – the prime minister told me herself – was the reason that he decided not to attend is because we were there.’

Brexit: What happens next (Source: Guardian)

Labour said the ‘terms’ of the meeting had been ‘broken’ after Theresa May called on all party leaders to discuss a possible delay to Brexit until 30 June.

After the failed meeting, Corbyn turned his fire on the Prime Minister.

‘The Prime Minister has shown tonight she is in complete denial about the scale of the crisis we are facing and unable to offer the leadership the country needs,’ he said.

‘To continue to bring back her damaging and twice rejected deal without significant changes, while threatening a no deal outcome ruled out by MPs, is unacceptable and reckless.’

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Imageplotter/REX/Shutterstock (10030099f) Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, on College Green for interviews in Westminster. Politicians in Westminster, London, UK - 11 Dec 2018
Chuka Umunna slammed the Labour leader for refusing talks (Picture: Imageplotter/Rex/Shutterstock)

SNP’s Stewart McDonald compared Corbyn’s refusal to sit down with the Independent Group to the hit teen comedy Mean Girls.

Advertisement

Advertisement

He tweeted: ‘I mean honestly, nine days until the country he wants to be prime minister of leaves the EU and Jeremy Corbyn has gone full “you can’t sit with us”.

‘This isn’t Mean Girls. Get a grip of your life, man!’

Corbyn was also sharply criticised by the leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince Cable, who was at the meeting.

‘Jeremy Corbyn’s kinder, gentler politics was found wanting this evening as he stomped out of the meeting with the Prime Minister before it began, rather than breathe the same air as Chuka Umunna,’ he wrote on Twitter.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Original Article