Zombie Theresa May defies Tory calls to resign after Brexit is delayed until Halloween

ZOMBIE Theresa May stared down furious calls to resign – and insisted soft Brexit talks with Labour could stop Britain being stuck in the EU until Halloween.

Amid uproar over new Brexit delay, the PM gave the biggest hint yet that she is edging closer to a customs union pact with Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in a desperate bid to break the logjam.

Speaking in the Commons, she told MPs there was “more agreement” between the two on a post-Brexit customs arrangement than many believed.

And referring to the cross-party talks she said: “We are sitting down seriously to find a way that enables this House to ensure that there is a deal that commands a majority so that we can leave the European Union.”

The PM met Jeremy Corbyn again for 20 minutes – and a number of Tory Ministers are expected to meet their Labour ‘Shadows’.

But mutinous Tory Eurosceptics used a Commons debate to demand she quit over her “abject surrender” to Brussels on Wednesday night – where she signed up to a six month Brexit extension to avoid a No Deal departure.

It means Britain could be stuck in the EU until at least October 31.

In a fractious Commons debate, Eurosceptic Tory veteran Bill Cash said the PM should “resign” and DUP’s Sammy Wilson accused the PM of having “rolled over” to Brussels.

Arch Brexiteer Mark Francois directly challenged the PM by saying “perseverance is a virtue, but sheer obstinacy is not.”

One veteran Tory added: “Nothing has changed, she’s kicking the can down the road. It’s the same old scorched earth strategy.”

MAY IN ‘WEAKER POSITION’ THAN DAVID CAMERON

The Sun can separately reveal that backbench Tory bosses separately scheduled a crunch meeting of the 1922 Committee for after recess on April 24 to “consider her position”.

One senior Tory said: “I think about David Cameron after the 2013 local elections – there was lot of speculation how long he could last as leader.

“Theresa May is in a far weaker position than he was.”

Separately, sources claimed as many as twelve Brexit backing ministers are in discussions about resigning in fury at the prospect of a super-soft Brexit – and European Elections.

Hitting back in the Commons, Mrs May said she realised the new extension would cause “deep frustration” many in Parliament and across the country.

But she insisted she had secured a break clause from EU leaders that meant the UK can still leave the EU before European Elections on May 23 if Parliament acts “in the national interest” and passes a deal.

Sending MPs on an 11-day Easter break – the PM urged them to “reflect” on the decisions they will need to take when they come back to “find a way through this impasse” and honour the 2016 Referendum.

She added that if talks with Labour failed – she would present Parliament with “indicative votes” in a desperate bid to find a majority.

I think that the British people expect their politicians to do just that when the national interest demands it

Theresa May

Sources claimed these votes would most likely come in the first week of May – before an EU summit in Romania.

The PM once more said the Government was firmly against a second referendum – telling MPs they had yet to act on the “first” one.

Mrs May also countered claims she had “betrayed” Brexit by insisting she had voted to leave – unlike Eurosceptics in her own party.

She said: “The choices we face are stark and the timetable is clear.

“I believe we must now press on at pace with our efforts to reach a consensus on a deal that is in the national interest.”

“I profoundly believe that in this unique situation where the House is deadlocked it is incumbent on both front benches to seek to work together to deliver what the British people voted for.

“I think that the British people expect their politicians to do just that when the national interest demands it.”

Mrs May opened the door to a cross-party deal earlier this month after her Brexit deal suffered a third thumping defeat in the Commons.

She has repeatedly ruled out a permanent post-Brexit customs union with the EU because of the need for Britain to have its own trade policy.

The PM reiterated the need to retain trade independence.

‘FLAWED PLAN’

But a series of influential Tory backbenchers backed her approach in the Commons – and urged her to stare down the “bullies” in the Eurosceptic wing of the party.

Tory MP Andrew Murrison said: “Can we now put the idea of a Northern Ireland backstop out of its misery and work on mitigating an up-front customs union if a customs union is the price of Labour

support for getting something approximating Brexit over the line?”

Mrs May spent part of an hour long discussion with EU leaders on Wednesday explaining the “significance” of cross-party talks in Britain – given that coalitions are far more common on the Continent.

Sources claimed French President Emmanuel Macron had initially been bemused by the importance given to the talks as he moaned that the Brexit process felt “endless”.

Jeremy Corbyn attacked the PM for leaving Britain in limbo by “sticking rigidly to a flawed plan”

But he conceded: “I welcome that the Prime Minister finally decided to reach out of the opposition last week and open talks to try to find a breakthrough.”

Tories on Wednesday night told The Sun they feared the long extension meant Brexit had now been killed for good.

Former diplomat Lord Kerr, who penned the Article 50 clause used to trigger the UK’s exit from the EU, yesterday said it was to think about holding a general election.

The crossbench peer said: “When parliamentary democracy is struck, one should be consulting the people.

“What’s wrong with having a general election with a view to getting a government that can take decision and get them through the House of Commons.”

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