Brexit: Labour pours cold water on finalising deal with Theresa May within days

Rebecca Long-Bailey says any changes must be enshrined in law – to prevent the prime minister's successor ripping them up

Labour has poured cold water on finalising a quick Brexit deal with Theresa May within days, insisting any changes would have to be “legally-binding”.

Downing Street has hinted it wants an agreement with Jeremy Corbyn nailed down by the end of the week, in order to meet the EU’s deadline for agreeing a further extension to Article 50 at a summit next week.

But Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour’s shadow business secretary, said the party would require any changes enshrined in law – to prevent the prime minister’s successor tearing them up.

Asked if she could imagine walking through the voting lobby with Ms May, Ms Long-Bailey replied: “Certainly, if we receive a deal, or a willingness to work towards a deal, on the basis that we have set out.”

But she warned that simply putting changes in the political declaration – the framework for a future EU deal – would be unacceptable, because it was only a “gentlemen’s agreement”.

“That’s what we need to see – legal protections enshrined in law,” the key ally of Mr Corbyn told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“But we also want to see them enshrined at an EU level, so that any subsequent government couldn't roll back on them wantonly.

“In relation to the political declaration, that’s never going to be a legally binding document – it’s a gentlemen’s agreement.”

The comments appeared to suggest Labour would demand a reopening of the withdrawal agreement itself – something the EU has repeatedly ruled out.

Ms Long-Bailey also refused to say that any Brexit deal agreed with the government would have to be put to the people in a Final Say referendum, despite both Keir Starmer and Tom Watson insisting it must.

She said Labour was entering the talks, which will start later today, with “an open mind”, adding: "We're not setting any red lines for these discussions with the prime minister”.

On a second referendum, Ms Long-Bailey risked angering many Labour MPs by arguing the party’s support for it in the latest “indicative votes” was “just to move matters ahead”.

“The People's Vote didn't satisfy all elements of our conference policy, but we wanted to have that on the table so members could have the opportunity to look at that if they wanted to,” she said.

The demand for any cross-party agreement to be “legally-binding” reflects Labour fears that the prime minister’s move is a trap to “dip Jeremy Corbyn’s hands in the blood” of the Brexit deal.

If he agrees any compromise that does not include a second referendum, he will face fury from Remain supporters for helping to facilitate Britain’s EU departure.

But, if the Labour leader refuses to cut a deal and the process fails, the Tories will accuse him of blocking Brexit and forcing a long Article 50 extension – possibly at an autumn election.