Brexit: Theresa May should become mediator, says Sir John Major

Theresa May needs to become a mediator to help break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament, former prime minister John Major has said.

He wants MPs to be given a vote on all Brexit options, indicating their preference on the way forward.

Mrs May should consider dropping her red lines "in the national interest" and become a facilitator to find out what Parliament wants, he said.

Tory Brexit supporter Suella Braverman dismissed his "Remainer elite" views.

She said: "Thank you Sir John, but no thanks."

• Liam Fox yet to seal no-deal trade agreements

• Boles: Ministers back 'block no-deal plan'

• Where Tory tribes stand on Brexit

'Open and frank'

Meanwhile, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has said there are "in reality, just two remaining options" for Brexit - to instruct the government to negotiate a close relationship with the EU, including a customs union, or for there to be a public vote.

He told the Fabian Society conference in London that it "seems inevitable" the government will have to apply for an extension to Article 50.

Labour has responsibility "in this moment of national crisis" to "offer a constructive path forward", said Sir Keir, adding that there are "no easy routes out of this mess".

"It's now time for an open and frank debate about how we break the deadlock," he said.

It comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to meet Mrs May for talks to discuss a way forward, unless she takes the possibility of a no-deal Brexit off the table.

Sir Keir also said what Mrs May is doing is "not resilient, but reckless", and that she was "ploughing on without a plan" and "reducing the time for a credible alternative to emerge".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier, Sir John warned that no deal would be the "worst of all outcomes". He said that "millions of people" - both individuals and businesses - would be hurt in such a scenario.

"Tinkering" with her deal will not make a difference to the current situation, he added.

Analysis

By Nick Eardley, political correspondent

Westminster is currently stuck on what happens next with Brexit.

There are a range of different views in Parliament, but no certainty that any of them would command majority support.

Indicative votes are a proposed solution.

MPs would be given a free vote on various proposals, from a second referendum to a customs union to a free trade agreement.

The idea goes that this would allow MPs to express what they really think, free from party commitments.

It could, proponents believe, end the log-jam.

But as we've documented at length in recent weeks, there is no guarantee it would.

One thing is certain just now; a lot of work still needs to be done if a consensus is to be found.

'Running out of time'

Sir John said the prime minister had been "handed a poisoned chalice" and that things had been "extremely difficult" for her.

"Her position has been all but impossible," he said, adding that Parliament was "running out of time".

If Mrs May does not drop her red lines "in the national interest", then her options are either for the Cabinet or Parliament to decide or for there to be another referendum "now more facts are known than were known in 2016", Sir John argued.

He said while Cabinet is too split to reach an agreement, there is hope that Parliament could reach a consensus, with Mrs May as a mediator.

He told the programme: "The prime minister argued valiantly for her deal. She fought for it but the House of Commons killed it and killed it comprehensively.

"The prime minister still needs a deal. If she can't deliver one that Parliament accepts, then she needs to become a facilitator, a mediator, to find out what Parliament will accept."

Ideally, all party leaders would give their MPs a free vote to allow an "honest representation" of opinion.

He called for compromise to prevent any further splits, as "no one is going to get their way".

It is now very unlikely we will leave the EU on 29 March "bar a miracle", he added, arguing that a delay would be "wise".

Mrs Braverman said some of the options being put forward - including a customs union, allowing continued free movement of people or holding another referendum - would be "clear breaches" of promises made by Mrs May, and ignore the will of the people.

She has also called for the Irish border backstop - the position of last resort, to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland - to be scrapped.