By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent and Martin Robinson Chief Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 12:54 BST, 17 May 2019 | Updated: 13:18 BST, 17 May 2019
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Theresa May today confirmed that Brexit talks with Labour were over after seven fruitless weeks
Theresa May offered Jeremy Corbyn a deal that would have sidestepped a second referendum so the UK could quit the EU before the end of July, it was reported today.
The plan included holding free votes in the Commons on alternatives to Mrs May's Brussels divorce including the full permanent customs union Mr Corbyn wants to deliver the softest possible Brexit.
But critics have said that allowing MPs to rank their Brexit preferences would lead to the UK quitting the EU with a deal 'no one wants'.
The plan is in a memo leaked to the Evening Standard today, which will infuriate Labour's second referendum supporters because it reveals that a new EU vote was not included as a Brexit alternative and would be voted on separately.
It fleshes out a plan which first came to light last week in which MPs would be given five forms of customs arrangement with the EU, from a full and permanent union to a looser temporary plan and asked to rank them
This was last week described as an 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet Brexit' because of a scene in the cult 1980s comedy where a group of builders vote on a colour to paint a shed and end up with a shade no one likes.
The Standard reported that the plan would also allow MPs a free vote on making a deal subject to a second referendum - a move which could see off a new vote by allowing Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas to join Brexiteer Tories in opposing it.
A Labour source confirmed that the document was genuine but was presented to the party by the Government and they did not agree
