Theresa May confirms live TV Brexit clash with Jeremy Corbyn on the night of I’m A Celebrity 2018 final
THERESA May today challenges Jeremy Corbyn to a live Brexit TV debate, set for December 9 — the night of the I’m A Celebrity final.
The PM uses an interview in The Sun to lay down the gauntlet to the Labour leader.
She wants to expose what she insists is the Opposition Leader’s failure to offer any workable alternative to hers for leaving the EU.
The primetime TV clash will now be the climax of Mrs May’s titanic two week fight to win MPs’ support to save her controversial divorce deal.
She told The Sun last night: “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.”
The Labour boss was forced to admit last week that he hadn’t read all of the 585-page divorce agreement.
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The PM hopes a slam dunk of Mr Corbyn with her command of the deal’s full details will win round wavering Tory MPs.
Downing Street has set a provisional date of Sunday December 9 for the TV debate, just two days before the showdown meaningful vote on the deal in the Commons - confirmed yesterday for Tuesday, December 11.
But that clashes with the finale of this year’s ITV series I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, also being shown on the evening of December 9.
Mrs May added: “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.”
During another dramatic day in Westminster:
- The PM also used her interview with The Sun to hit back at Emmanuel Macron’s trade deal warning by threatening to ban French fishing boats from UK waters,
- President Donald Trump said the PM’s agreement “sounds like a great deal for the EU” and again warned it could risk a trade deal with the US,
- An explosive row over a no deal Brexit erupted at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting as Michael Gove slammed colleagues for inadequate planning and Greg Clark signalled he may quit,
- Theresa May begins a tour to sell her deal to sceptics in four corners of the UK with a visit to Wales and Northern Ireland.
No10 want the TV debate to be a straight head to head between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn.
But who would take part in it sparked a new intense political row last night.
Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable insisted the debate should be between the PM and a pro-EU campaigner like him over whether Brexit should be reversed.
The SNP called for Mrs May to debate its leader, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
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But senior Tory Eurosceptic Sir Bernard Jenkin argued a Brexiteer should take Mr Corbyn’s place against Mrs May, saying it should not be “polarised between a Remain Labour Party and a Remain PM who has negotiated a Remain Brexit”.
Mrs May famously ducked out of appearing in any of the TV debates during last year’s general election campaign, a move that was pounced on by her critics.
Mr Corbyn held back from immediately accepting the PM’s challenge, with his aides saying he will await a formal approach from No10.
A Labour Party spokesman said: “Jeremy would relish a head to head debate with Theresa May about her botched Brexit deal and the future of our country”.
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