Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo. Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Images

The great big Brexit debate: May wants to take on Corbyn over EU deal

The debate is set to be held ahead of 11 December vote on Brexit.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Theresa May has confirmed that she wants to have a head-to-head televised debate with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over her proposed Brexit deal, ahead of MPs voting on it next month. 

Number 10 Downing Street yesterday refused to confirm that May would challenge Corbyn yesterday after rumours circulated that the pair would square off following an article in the Telegraph

But in an interview with the Sun today, May laid down the gauntlet to Corbyn, saying that she was ready to square off with the Labour leader over the proposed Brexit deal.

“I am going to be going out and round the country. I am going to be talking to people. I am going to be explaining why I think this deal is the right deal for the UK – and yes, I am ready to debate it with Jeremy Corbyn. Because I have got a plan. He hasn’t got a plan,” May told the Sun.

“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.

Yesterday, a Labour spokesperson said that Corbyn would “relish a head-to-head debate with Theresa May about her botched Brexit deal and the future of our country”.

Why would they debate? 

May today kicks off her national tour around Britain, during which she will try to sell the Brexit deal she reached with EU leaders on Sunday.

May crowned 17 months of painful talks with Brussels by sealing Brexit arrangements with the 27 other EU heads of state and government.

The European Council agreed with the progress made so far in the 500-page Brexit deal, which includes specific provisions to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland, and also endorsed a 26-page document on the future relationship.

May has repeatedly said that the deal on the table from the EU is the best deal available for Britain. But it has been met with fierce opposition in the UK, both from her own party and opposition figures.

The tour comes ahead of the fateful vote in the British House of Commons on 11 December, which will determine whether or not the parliament accepts what she has put forward.

With a large number of dissenters in her own party, her minority government supporters the DUP saying that they will vote against the deal, and the opposition set firmly against it, May has an uphill battle to fight.

Corbyn has been highly critical of the deal reached by May, saying it came as a result of “failed and miserable” negotiations, and has said his party will refuse to support it. 

The two have a lot to gain (and lose) politically, therefore, by squaring off in a high-profile debate. For May, it will be a chance to speak directly to the electorate through the television and to sell her vision of Brexit, as well as hammer home the point that Corbyn “hasn’t got a plan”.

For Corbyn, it’s a chance to rally the nation behind the Labour Party and its refusal to accept the terms achieved by May, while also laying out his party’s vision for the future.

When will it happen?

According to the Sun, No 10 has set the evening of Sunday 9 December as the time for the debate to be held by the two leaders – ahead of the vote the following Tuesday.

But there’s one big problem with this plan: that Sunday is the final of the wildly popular I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on ITV, and BBC One has a packed schedule of popular tv shows on the day. 

As pointed out in The Guardian:

It is unlikely that a sceptical audience settling down for Sunday night viewing would welcome any of the shows being interrupted or delayed, even for a political debate that could shape the future of Britain.

The government might have to rethink their scheduling if they don’t want to annoy a populace already impatient and Brexit saturated populace.

 What do the other parties think?

There are already are rumblings from opposition politicians that if a live televised debate is to go ahead, it should include all viewpoints. 

Those in favour of remaining in the EU will want their views represented, as will people who are in favour of a no deal hard Brexit. 

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable he said he wants to be included if a debate goes ahead, as did leaders from the Greens, the Welsh Plaid Cymru party and the Scottish SNP.

Whatever happens, the debate promises to be divisive, contentious and hard-fought. A bit like Brexit, so.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
22 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Blake
    Favourite Greg Blake
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:10 PM

    Two years ago would have been a fantastic opportunity to properly debate instead of relying on memes, sound bites and tabloid headlines. Only one side fought passionately, the other scored a ‘could have done better’.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Johnson
    Favourite Joe Johnson
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 1:36 PM

    @Greg Blake: Corbyn doesn’t know what he wants and has been sitting on the fence on this issue and not leading his party, At lest May is trying.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian McNally
    Favourite Ian McNally
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 2:50 PM

    @Joe Johnson: Corbyn knows exactly what he wants, he’s been anti- eu for as long as he’s been in politics and he’s hoping for either a crash out or bad deal so that Labour sweep the next election

    25
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Favourite Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 5:46 PM

    @Ian McNally: Yep, he knows well the Brexit vote came from the traditional Labour voting base and if its a crashout he would get his party in on a GE as long as it fields Brexit supporting candidates. If he doesn’t the Tories would be back.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Connor Saváge
    Favourite Connor Saváge
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 1:06 PM

    Opportunity to get clear points on your country making one of the most critical decisions in it’s history looking uncertain because it clashes with “I’m a Celebrity”.

    Oh dear, United Kingdom… oh deary deary me

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Conway
    Favourite Sean Conway
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:11 PM

    Let her fight it out with rees mogg and boris. they are the ones who got her into this s(h!t. stay well clear jeremy.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Wallace
    Favourite James Wallace
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:13 PM

    @Sean Conway: He’s clueless regarding Brexit, if recent comments of his are anything to go by. She would destroy him in a debate.

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Gorman #FBPE
    Favourite James Gorman #FBPE
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:32 PM

    @James Wallace: she will

    21
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute European Bob
    Favourite European Bob
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:44 PM

    @Sean Conway: She’s being cute. Tories are falling apart, Brexit deal looking unlikely to get voted through, subsequent general election likely, so Theresa’s answer to not being able to bring her party with her is to arsebox with Corbyn! Smokescreen.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FlopFlipU
    Favourite FlopFlipU
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 6:02 PM

    @James Gorman #FBPE: that’s a very important input

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Barry
    Favourite Kevin Barry
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 1:49 PM

    The total lack of knowledge of what the EU is, never mind how it operates among a majority of Westminster MPs is astounding.

    Ardent Brexiteer Nadine Dorries MP is voting against the withdrawal treaty because the UK will have no influence in the EU, no MEPs, no commissioner and no vote. The mind boggles.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute KEV
    Favourite KEV
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:16 PM

    She’s wasting her time trying to convince the public now. She can’t persuade her own mp’s.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Leary
    Favourite John O'Leary
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:31 PM

    The brits are headed for a post colonial civil war by the looks of it! Ohh the ironing!!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal Carey
    Favourite Donal Carey
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 12:43 PM

    Nobody can say they don’t understand Brexit it has been on every possible channel you could think of so stop the debating and Vote

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Wallace
    Favourite James Wallace
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 1:04 PM

    @Donal Carey: Corbyn says he hasn’t even read the agreement.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Rafferty
    Favourite Danny Rafferty
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 6:01 PM

    @Donal Carey: Except that it’s very obvious many of them don’t understand it.

    I particularly like the comments likening the EU to a sort of Hotel California.
    Very funny because they can leave and are leaving – the fact that a large number of the Brexiters didn’t really want leave, and didn’t know it themselves, just makes it funnier.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Harris
    Favourite Tony Harris
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 3:27 PM

    As reported in The Sun!
    Ah sweet lamb of jaysus..

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute headbeagle
    Favourite headbeagle
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 3:56 PM

    In a battle of wits, Corbyn always comes unarmed.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry O Toole
    Favourite Barry O Toole
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 3:25 PM

    Two bald men fighting over a comb just get on with it

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Rafferty
    Favourite Danny Rafferty
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 6:04 PM

    “Sunday is the final of the wildly popular I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on ITV, and BBC One has a packed schedule of popular tv shows on the day…The government might have to rethink their scheduling if they don’t want to annoy a populace already impatient and Brexit saturated.”
    Says it all really.
    We have to be ready to move on from their mess even if they can’t.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Nov 27th 2018, 10:31 PM

    Another referendum that would change things would cause civil war!!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Smith
    Favourite Gerard Smith
    Report
    Nov 28th 2018, 12:18 AM

    Don’t see what Corbyn has to gain from it. Be an idiot to do it.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds