Theresa May challenges Jeremy Corbyn to Brexit debate as she heads out to sell deal
Theresa May has challenged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to a Brexit TV debate as she heads out on an intensive two-week campaign to try to get her deal through the Commons.
Mrs May will visit Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday to try to sell the Brexit deal as “good for the union”.
But she faced fresh criticism of her agreement from Donald Trump, who warned the deal could negatively affect trade between the US and the UK. Downing Street was quick to refute the claim.
Former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the deal was the "worst of all worlds", adding that the warning from Mr Trump should not be ignored.
The prime minister faces an uphill struggle to get the deal through the Commons, with many of her own MPs, the DUP and Labour opposed to it.
ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston said latest estimates suggest the Government could lose the vote on December 11 by as much as 100 votes.
Meanwhile ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand said a briefing on the deal to Labour MPs on Monday failed to persuade any of them to back it.
Ahead of her visit to Wales and Northern Ireland, Mrs May said she was ready to debate the deal with Mr Corbyn.
“Because I have got a plan. He hasn’t got a plan," she told The Sun newspaper.
“Exactly how it might be done, if he takes it up, would be a matter for the broadcasters to determine.
“What I think is important is that people are able to see the issues around this plan.
“I am willing to stand up and explain why I think it is the best possible deal available for the UK.”
A Labour spokesman said Mr Corbyn would "relish" a head-to-head debate on the "botched" Brexit deal.
Mrs May's comments came after Mr Trump appeared to undermine the deal.
The US president told reporters: “Sounds like a great deal for the EU.
“I think we have to take a look at, seriously, whether or not the UK is allowed to trade. Because, you know, right now, if you look at the deal, they may not be able to trade with us. And that wouldn’t be a good thing. I don’t think they meant that.
“I don’t think that the Prime Minister meant that and hopefully, she’ll be able to do something about that.
“But, right now, as the deal stands she may not, they may not, be able to trade with the US. And, I don’t think they want that at all. That would be a very big negative for the deal.”
Sir Michael Fallon said the Government must heed Mr Trump's claim.
He said: "It's no use us just brushing that off, saying 'No, no, we can do a deal with America'; he's the President of the United States, and if he says it's going to be difficult, then it certainly looks like it's going to be difficult.
"This is not a good deal and we need a better deal."
In response to Mr Trump’s comments, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The political declaration we have agreed with the EU is very clear we will have an independent trade policy so that the UK can sign trade deals with countries around the world – including with the US.
“We have already been laying the groundwork for an ambitious agreement with the US through our joint working groups, which have met five times so far.
“The US Trade Representative also issued a call for views from the public on a future UK-US free trade agreement earlier this month.”
Mr Trump’s intervention came as it was confirmed that MPs will vote on Mrs May’s Brexit deal on December 11 after five days of debate.
The timing gives Mrs May a fortnight to avert what threatens to be a humiliating defeat at the hands of scores of Conservative rebels.
She was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available than the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.