London: British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was “impossible” for her to rule out a no-deal Brexit without stopping the process altogether, as she tries to come up with a strategy before exit day on March 29. May was responding to a letter from Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asking her to exclude crashing out of the EU as a precondition for talks about Brexit compromise proposals. May said she was “disappointed” that Corbyn had not taken up her offer for a meeting to discuss a way forward after her divorce deal with the EU was rejected by parliament this week.
“My door remains open to a meeting without preconditions,” she said, adding that she would be “happy to discuss” Corbyn’s proposals which include a customs union with the EU. But she added: “It is not within the government’s power to rule out no deal”. Meanwhile, Theresa May will talk by telephone to EU president Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday at the British leader’s request, EU officials said. May and Juncker have only been in touch by text message since Tuesday, when the British parliament rejected their Brexit divorce deal.
