European socialist leaders slap down Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to back Boris Johnson’s Brexit dealEU leaders told Corbyn to stop playing party politics and help get deal over line Portuguese PM Mr Costa said Corbyn’s strategy would prolong uncertainty PM Antonio Costa also accused Mr Corbyn of ‘sacrificing’ people’s interestsAmbush came during a meeting before Thursday’s summit of six heads of stateBy David Churchill Brussels Correspondent For The Daily Mail Published: 17:28 EDT, 18 October 2019 | Updated: 17:47 EDT, 18 October 2019 Jeremy Corbyn has been slapped down by other European socialist leaders for refusing to back Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.The Labour leader was taken to task during a private meeting in Brussels before the start of a summit on Thursday, according to sources.EU leaders told him to stop playing party politics and help get a deal over the line by telling his MPs to vote for it. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was taken to task during a private meeting in Brussels before the start of a summit on Thursday, according to sourcesThe ambush came during a meeting before Thursday’s summit of six heads of state who belong to the European Socialists and Democrats political group.Mr Corbyn updated them on Brexit and how his party plans to reject the deal.But Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa said Mr Corbyn’s strategy of another delay followed by a general election would prolong uncertainty for millions of citizens and businesses. A spokesman for Mr Costa confirmed to the Mail that he told the Labour leader to put the ‘interests of Europe and the United Kingdom’ above party politics. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa (pictured) said Mr Corbyn’s strategy of another delay followed by a general election would prolong uncertainty for millionsbrexit countdown_bgCreated with Sketch.He also accused Mr Corbyn of ‘sacrificing’ people’s interests. He added: ‘The European economy and the British economy cannot be sacrificed to the interests of the political will to have elections.‘It is time, once and for all, for the British Parliament to respond to what has been a patient, sustained, persistent effort of good will on the part of the EU to negotiate successive agreements to try to overcome successive rejections.’The spokesman said the other five EU leaders present also privately urged Mr Corbyn to help get the deal over the line.Asked whether Mr Corbyn had been told to help get the deal through, a Labour spokesman said: ‘I’m not going to comment on private conversations.’
Advertisement
European socialist leaders slap down Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to back Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal
