Boris Johnson news: Corbyn urges Tory MPs to help block no-deal Brexit after opposition leaders agree plan at crunch meeting

A cross-party group of senior MPs have formally asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to chair a possible citizens' forum on Brexit.

The politicians want to hold public meetings, known as a citizens' assemblies or citizens' forums, where people with a host of differing views on Britain's divorce from Brussels and from across the spectrum of society could come together in a bid to find a solution to the current stalemate.

The letter to Archbishop Welby was signed by Labour MPs Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper, Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb, the SNP's Angus MacNeil, Conservative Party MP Dame Caroline Spelman, and independent member Frank Field. All but veteran MP Mr Field are pro-EU politicians.

In a letter to the Church of England's most senior cleric, the MPs wrote: "Given the polarisation we have all experienced across the UK and within parliament, we believe that a citizens' forum on Brexit would be an opportunity to consider how to heal the divisions in our country since the Brexit referendum.

"We are writing to ask if you would be willing to oversee such a process.

"The forum would benefit greatly if you were willing to chair an independent panel that reflects the diversity of views throughout the UK to oversee the forum and ensure it is fairly run, and to work with other partners to see if it is possible to make such a forum happen.

"A process which involves a bit less shouting and a bit more listening and considering could help the whole country."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has confirmed he would be willing to chair a citizens' forum on Brexit "in principle".

The Church of England's most senior cleric said conditions to him accepting the role, however, "have not yet been met".

He said any such forum "should not be a Trojan horse intended to delay or prevent Brexit in any particular form".

The archbishop also said it should have cross-party support and that it required "time to be properly organised".

He said: "I am honoured to be approached and would be willing to accept in principle, subject to some conditions which have not yet been met."

Jeremy Corbyn says: "The priority is to prevent a no-deal exit from the European Union

Sajid Javid, the chancellor, has cancelled his first major speech the day before he was due to give it, leading opponents to claim there was panic in the government.

The Treasury said the speech had been called off because the "themes and priorities" would instead be set out in the spending round in early September.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: "Sajid Javid is getting a record of announcing events and initiatives, and then within hours cancelling or reversing them.

"This doesn't inspire confidence. Panic seems to be setting in inside government."

A Treasury spokesman said the speech, which was due to take place in Birmingham, was being rescheduled.

"The forthcoming spending round will instead be brought forward in early September and will cover the themes and priorities he was due to outline," the spokesman said.

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Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU Commission president, has told Mr Johnson he would look at any concrete proposals the prime minister had on the Northern Irish backstop but underlined that the bloc's support for Ireland was steadfast.

"President Juncker repeated his willingness to work constructively with Prime Minister Johnson and to look at any concrete proposals he may have, as long as they are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement," the Commission said after the two had a 20-minute phone call.

"President Juncker underlined the EU27's support for Ireland is steadfast and that the EU will continue to be very attentive to Ireland's interests."

Mr Juncker added that the EU would do everything it could to avoid a no-deal Brexit, saying such a scenario would only ever be the UK's decision and not the EU's.

The Conservative Party has accused Jeremy Corbyn of attempting to "stop Brexit happening altogether" after co-ordinating attempts to prevent a no-deal exit.

Responding to today's meeting of key Commons figures who are anti no-deal, Paul Scully MP, deputy Tory chairman, said: "Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party are actively seeking to undermine negotiations to stop Brexit happening altogether.

"Boris Johnson is now making progress because it is clear we will be leaving the EU on 31 October - no ifs, no buts. All Corbyn offers is more delay and uncertainty."

Mr Johnson told the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, that Britain will leave without a deal unless the backstop is "abolished".

"The prime minister spoke to the President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker by phone this evening. They had a positive and substantive conversation, where the prime minister updated Jean Claude Juncker on his recent discussions with EU leaders, including at the G7," a spokesperson for No 10 said.

“The prime minister set out that the UK will be leaving the EU on 31 October, whatever the circumstances, and that we absolutely want to do so with a deal. The PM was also clear however that unless the Withdrawal Agreement is reopened and the backstop abolished there is no prospect of that deal.

“The prime minister reiterated his commitment to Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in all its parts. He underlined the importance of ensuring the peace, prosperity and security of Northern Ireland and said that we will never place infrastructure, checks, or controls at the border.

“The leaders noted that their teams would continue their informal discussions and they agreed to remain in touch.”

This is the full text of Jeremy Corbyn's letter to 116 Tory and independent MPs calling them to work with Labour to prevent a no-deal Brexit:

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