Tories horrified by Theresa May\'s Brexit pact with Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn

London: British Prime Minister Theresa May’s offer to work with the Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn in order to deliver a Brexit deal has not gone down well within her party. She has been cautioned that it could destroy the Conservative party. Eurosceptic MPs have been horrified with her offer.

A string of Tory MPs directly challenged her opening the door to a softer Brexit, which could involve tearing up a manifesto commitment not to pursue a customs union.

The PM wrote to all Conservative MPs on Wednesday morning explaining her decision, blaming the failure of the Democratic Unionist party and leave-supporting backbenchers to support her deal.

“The question is how can we get parliament to ratify the deal? The government would have preferred to do so based on Conservative and DUP votes. But, having tried three times, it is clear that is unlikely to happen,” she said.

She added: “I realise some of you will be concerned about the government discussing the way forward with the Opposition. However, with some colleagues unwilling to support the government in the division lobbies, this is the only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit that we promised and for which the British people voted.”

May and Corbyn were due to hold talks later on Wednesday with the possibility of hammering out a common position by the end of the week. Any deal would then be presented to the EU at a summit next week with the aim of leaving on May 22 and avoiding European parliamentary elections.

If that fails, No 10 will move to holding a series of votes in parliament on options, including a runoff between her deal and alternatives such as a customs union, while agreeing to abide by the results.

Corbyn said he was “very happy” to talk to May about Labour’s vision for Brexit, which would include a permanent customs union and stronger workers’ rights protections. However, he will face a dilemma over whether to push for any deal to be put to a public vote through a second referendum, a key demand of many senior figures in his party and many of its members.

Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, did not rule out giving in to demands for a second referendum, telling MPs: “I don’t think we should have a second referendum because it takes us back to square one, is my personal view, but the PM will have discussions and we will see where they lead.”

However, he also suggested there may be limited appetite for a compromise on the Conservative side, while insisting the talks were being pursued in good faith. “I personally think a customs union is highly undesirable. We’re not setting preconditions, but nor is this a blank cheque,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today.

Eurosceptics appeared to be deeply shocked by May’s move, as many of them had been holding out hope that she would pivot towards a no-deal Brexit after her withdrawal agreement failed to get through the House of Commons three times.

Stewart Jackson, a former Tory MP and Brexit adviser, suggested a fresh move be made against May. “Isn’t it time Graham Brady and the executive committee of the 1922 reviewed the rules and instigated a fresh leadership ballot? May has no mandate to pursue the Corbyn pact,” she said.