Theresa May Reaches Across the Aisle on Brexit

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: In London, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has just wrapped up a marathon meeting with her cabinet, where she’s been trying to break the Brexit deadlock. In a statement, the Prime Minister offered to work with opposition parties and said that she’ll request another extension to Article 50, further delaying Brexit.

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THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I know there are some that who are so fed up with delay and endless arguments, that they would like to leave with no deal next week. I’ve always been clear that could make success of no- deal in the long-term, but leaving with a deal is the best solution. So, we will need a further extension of Article 50, one that is as short as possible and which ends when we pass a deal.

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AMANPOUR: So, joining now for more on this is Richard Quest in London. Richard, are the odds shortening for a second referendum?

RICHARD QUEST, BUSINESS ANCHOR, “QUEST MEANS BUSINESS”: No, I don’t think they are. I think what’s going to happen here, well, the Prime Minister said tonight is that she is going to work with the lead of the opposition, Jeremy Corbin, on a unified approach and if they can’t get a unified approach, at least an agreed range of possibilities that she’ll put to Parliament. Crucially she said, the government would accept whatever Parliament decides. She’d then take it on to Brussels. Three take-aways tonight, one, it seems no-deal is just about gone. Two, the Prime Ministers redlines on customs unions and whatever seems to have gone. And three, for the first time the Prime Minister is looking to get this through the — over the line without her own party, she’s going to rely on Labor MPs. And finally, this is the unified approach that people were talking about at the weekend. It’s not a government of national unity, but unity seems to be the word.

AMANPOUR: But Richard, do we know whether the Labor Leader, Jeremy Corbin, will take up her challenge or her sort of outstretched hand and will the E.U., importantly, all 27 countries, agree for yet another extension and how long would that be?

QUEST: You have asked the question in the middle between the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbin, beautifully asked. Well, I can’t — I have no idea. We haven’t heard yet from Labor, Christiane, we don’t know. They’re working out their position. On the E.U. side I can be a little more direct. Donald Tusk has already said we need patience. The E.U. is setting themselves up for whatever comes along. But finally, remember, all of this is only in the second part of the negotiations. Whatever they decide, whatever they agree to is purely political declaration stuff, it doesn’t bind anyone.

AMANPOUR: It’s extraordinary that it keeps going on and it still looks like a deadlock. Richard Quest, thank you.