Today’s political headlines includes May’s offer to Corbyn to compromise on Brexit, EU leaders would reject request for short delay, manufacturing growth sectors vulnerable to Brexit and Lamb warns he may quit Lib Dems.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
May offers Corbyn Brexit compromise talks EU leaders would reject request for short delay Manufacturing growth sectors vulnerable to Brexit Lamb warns he may quit \u2018intransigent\u2019 Lib Dems MPs call for prison sentences of under a year to be abolished NAO criticises nuclear submarine storage Police investigate pro-Brexit railway sabotage attempts Councils left \u2018in the dark\u2019 about Brexit
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May used a statement after yesterday\u2019s seven-hour long Cabinet meeting to offer to enter talks with Jeremy Corbyn to find a Brexit compromise, which he has accepted. She said she would request a further extension from the EU, but hoped for a deal with Labour or a decision by Parliament before next Wednesday so European Parliament elections could be avoided. Sources say that the meeting was \u2018at times fractious and bad tempered\u2019, with 14 ministers opposed to a long extension, although some claimed that only four favoured a no-deal Brexit. However,\u00a0The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that 14 ministers were in favour of no-deal, with 10 preferring an extension. Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the decision is \u2018an attempt to overturn the referendum that wanted a clear Brexit\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Times<\/em>, EU leaders will reject a request for a short delay to Brexit, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that the only choice was between a long extension or no-deal. However, European Council President Donald Tusk said that leaders should \u2018be patient\u2019 and see what happens in the UK.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times\u00a0<\/em>says<\/a>\u00a0that UK manufacturing growth over the past decade has been driven by just four sectors \u2013 food, motor vehicles, other transport equipment and repair of machinery \u2013 and that these rely most on a close relationship with the EU. PwC warned that Brexit would be \u2018costly\u2019 to these industries, which new Office for National Statistics figures show were responsible for 86% of manufacturing growth between 2008 and 2018.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun\u00a0<\/em>reports<\/a>\u00a0that former Liberal Democrat leadership contender Norman Lamb has warned that he may quit the party as it was being \u2018intransigent\u2019 over Brexit. He was the only one of the party\u2019s MPs to vote in favour of a customs union during Monday\u2019s indicative votes and said he was worried his party had become \u2018the mirror image of the ERG.\u2019<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that a new report by the Commons Justice Committee endorses Justice Secretary David Gauke\u2019s plan to axe prison sentences shorter than six months, but suggests that he should go further and abolish all sentences of less than a year. It says this would improve prison safety and allow more to be spent on rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>reports<\/a>\u00a0that the National Audit Office has criticised the Ministry of Defence over the cost of nuclear submarine storage. It says that failings in the \u2018dismal\u2019 programme have cost the UK \u00a3500m, with none of the 20 vessels decommissioned since 1980 having been disposed of, risking the UK\u2019s reputation as a \u2018responsible nuclear power\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Mirror\u00a0<\/em>reports<\/a>\u00a0that the British Transport Police are investigating two pro-Brexit attempts to \u2018sabotage\u2019 the rail network by placing devices on the tracks which would disrupt signalling systems. Safeguards introduced as a result of EU regulations meant that the devices did not function successfully.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0carries details<\/a>\u00a0of a new report by the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, which says that the Government has left councils \u2018in the dark\u2019 about Brexit and needs to provide more support urgently. It also calls for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be fast-tracked to replace EU funding.<\/p>\n