Brexit news latest: Conservatives officially start preparing for European elections

Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Megan White8 April 2019
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Applications for European election candidates were being accepted by the Conservative Party this evening amid ongoing talks between the Tories and Labour in an effort to break the impasse over Brexit.

The Tories sent an email to potential candidates today stating they would be contesting the elections on May 23, with April 24 the closing date for nominations.

It said: “Due to the current situation we will be contesting the European Elections on 23 May 2019 and the closing date for nominations is 24 April.”

No10 and the Labour Party announced that talks on Brexit will take place between officials from either side on Monday evening.

File photo: Mrs May is set to head to Brussels for an emergency summit on Wednesday
EPA

Senior Tories all declined to answer questions on the state of the talks with Labour as they left tonight's meeting.

The Government has laid an order in Parliament enabling the UK to participate in the European elections if the UK has not left the EU by the time they take place.

The Day of Poll Order sets the date for the elections to take place in Britain on May 23.

However the Cabinet Office said that it did not mean the elections were "inevitable" and that they would be cancelled if the UK has left by May 22.

Theresa May spoke to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s critical Brexit summit in Brussels.

The Prime Minister will also fly to Berlin and Paris this week to appeal in person to the German and French leaders.

Mrs May's de-facto deputy David Lidington is set to formally trigger the election process on Tuesday by laying down an official order in Parliament.

Mrs May had hoped to put a deal to the Commons tomorrow night.

But if nothing is agreed, Britain could either crash out without a deal on Friday or be forced to accept a longer extension and commit to holding the European elections, which Mrs May has repeatedly vowed to avoid.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "It remains the Government's intention to leave the EU with a deal and pass the necessary legislation before May 22, so that we do not need to participate in European parliamentary elections.

"As a responsible Government today we have taken the necessary steps required by law should we have to participate.

"The Day of Poll Order provides returning officers with a date to hold potential European Parliamentary elections, but it does not make these elections inevitable as leaving the EU before the date of election automatically removes our obligation to take part."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home on Monday morning
REUTERS

Of the cross-party talks, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has expressed frustration that the Prime Minister "has not yet moved off her red lines so we can reach a compromise.”

He said: "Today I held a meeting of our shadow cabinet to discuss the Brexit talks with the Government.

"The exchanges with the Government have been serious, but our shadow cabinet expressed frustration that the Prime Minister has not yet moved off her red lines so we can reach a compromise.

"The key issues that we must see real movement on to secure an agreement are a customs union with the EU, alignment with the single market and full dynamic alignment of workers' rights, environmental protections and consumer standards."

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