UK Brexit chief says May not offering a blank check in talks

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Britain's Brexit secretary denied Wednesday that he was offering a "blank check" to the opposition Labour Party after Prime Minister Theresa May offered to meet with the party leader in hopes of ending the impasse over the U.K.'s departure from the European Union.

Steve Barclay told the BBC that some Labour proposals, such as a customs union, would be "very difficult" for the government to accept, but both sides need to sit down and work out an agreement to avoid a damaging no-deal Brexit. But he added that the "remorseless logic" of Parliament's failure to back the prime minister's withdrawal agreement with the EU is that Britain must move toward a softer form of Brexit "We're not setting pre-conditions, but nor is it a blank check," Barclay said.

With Britain dashing toward a disorderly exit from the EU within days, May pivoted away from the cliff edge Tuesday, saying she would seek another Brexit delay and hold talks with the opposition to seek a compromise. After failing repeatedly to win Parliament's backing for her Brexit blueprint, May said the country needs "national unity to deliver the national interest."