(Bloomberg) -- Theresa May’s Cabinet ministers believe that the chances of reaching a Brexit deal with the U.K.’s main opposition Labour Party are fading, according to people familiar with the matter.
At a meeting in May’s offices Tuesday, ministers concluded that cross-party talks with Labour are stalling and not looking likely to deliver an agreement on the way forward.
That means the government’s focus is likely to turn to what happens next, and how to offer Parliament a range of Plan B options to chose from, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing confidential issues.
May’s Uneasy Courtship of Corbyn Puts Brexit Deal on Knife Edge
May invited Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to work with her team on a joint plan for Brexit in April, after Parliament voted for a third time to reject the deal she negotiated with the European Union.
So far no joint blueprint has been agreed. Talks resumed Tuesday afternoon, with May’s de facto deputy, David Lidington, leading negotiations for the government.
One person familiar with the matter said there is unlikely to be a positive breakthrough on Tuesday after both parties were buffeted by the backlash from bad election results last week.
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay told colleagues at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting that the government must not give up preparing contingency measures for a no-deal split from the EU, the people said. Barclay warned that a no-deal Brexit is still possible if an agreement has not been reached when the EU’s extended deadline expires Oct. 31.
The only option then left would be to ask for another extension -- which the EU leaders could refuse -- or to cancel Brexit, which members of the U.K. Parliament may be reluctant to do, he said.
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