Two weeks to get a Brexit deal as Tories and Labour restart talks – or we waste £100m on pointless EU elections

MINISTERS will restart Brexit talks today as the desperate hunt to hammer out a deal continues before we have to waste £100million on the EU elections.

Discussions have been going on for weeks to see if both sides can get together and agree on a compromise deal – but nothing’s come of it yet.

Today the PM’s deputy David Lidington and Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will be in talks for the Government, and Sir Keir Starmer is on board for Labour.

Sir Keir said as he went into the discussions this afternoon he was “looking forward to hearing their position on some of the key issues where there are some fundamental issues between us”.

They will be joined by Government Chief Whip Julian Smith and Theresa May’s chief of staff, Gavin Barwell.

John McDonnell said before Easter he was “hopeful” about the discussions but Jeremy Corbyn has warned that the two sides are still “a long way apart”.

Mrs May wants to break the Brexit deadlock and has reached out to the Labour boss to try and get enough votes to pass an agreement.

However, No10 accused Labour of dragging their feet today, with the PM’s spokesperson saying: “Progress needs to be made urgently”.

But Tories are fuming with the idea she could u-turn on her promises and go for a soft Brexit customs union instead.

Labour has said the government aren’t taking seriously its plans, but ministers have also said the Opposition are unwilling to budge either.

The PM wants to get a deal signed off before the middle of next month as Britain will then have to take part in the European elections – and the Tories are set for a drubbing.

But she’s rapidly running out of time to get something done – and will need to change tack if she can’t make progress in the coming days.

It’ll cost us £100m to take part in the elections if they happen, and those elected might not even take their seats at all.

Downing Street said earlier the PM was ready to bring forward a Brexit bill to the Commons – even though her deal has been thrown out three times already.

In order for Brexit to take place, UK laws need to officially be changed and signed off by MPs, and allies said it could be brought forwards next week.

Meanwhile, her own backbenchers are becoming even more furious with her as we’re still no closer to getting out of the EU.

Voters are telling MPs they will opt for the Brexit Party in next month’s polls rather than back the Tories.

Today the PM faces a fresh attempt to try and boot her out of office.

Tory Nigel Evans said today she should step down “as soon as possible”.

He told Radio 4: “The only way we’re going to break this impasse properly is if we have fresh leadership of the Conservative Party.”

Some are trying to change the rules to force another vote of no confidence on her in weeks.

At the moment she can’t be challenged until the end of the year after she won a vote.

The PM will also gather her cabinet together for another session later today.

Powerful backbencher group 1922 bosses are set to meet to decide Mrs May’s fate later.

But prisons minister Rory Stewart said earlier the PM was going a “good job” considering the circumstances.

“The idea somehow that some new fresh leader with extraordinary charm and nimble feet would be able to suddenly get the deal across the line is mistaken,” he added.

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