JEREMY Corbyn walked out of a meeting with Theresa May and opposition party leaders because an ex-Labour MP was present, according to reports.
The Labour Party leader had been invited to join talks with Theresa May and the leaders of the SNP, LibDems, Green Party, Plaid Cymru and the Independent Group as Westminster once again looks deadlocked on Brexit.
READ MORE: Theresa May to address nation after another disastrous day
However, the presence of Independent Group spokesman and former Labour MP Chuka Umunna, prompted Corbyn to walk out, according to ITV and BBC reporters.
Three different sources tell @nickeardleybbc and I that Jeremy Corbyn walked out of the meeting with that PM because Chuka Umunna of TiG was there
— Chris Mason (@ChrisMasonBBC) March 20, 2019
NEW: Understand Jeremy Corbyn refused to join meeting with opposition leaders because Chuka Umunna was there. “He’s not a proper party leader”. Corbyn walked out.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) March 20, 2019
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford backed up the claims, according to STV.
SNP Westminster leader @IanBlackfordMP says @jeremycorbyn said if Chukka Umunna is there I am not coming in. He demanded the meeting at PMQS
— Colin Mackay (@STVColin) March 20, 2019
A Labour spokesperson said: “It was not the meeting that had been agreed and the terms were broken.
“Downing St is in such chaos that they were unable to manage their own proposed meeting.
“We are in discussions with Number No 10 about holding the bilateral meeting with the PM that Jeremy proposed at PMQs."
READ MORE: Brexit: France, Spain and Belgium ready to veto Article 50 extension
Umunna is one of eight former Labour politicians in the Independent Group. Three former Tories have also joined since the group was established in February.
He described Corbyn's refusal to engage in talks as "extraordinary" and "very juvenile".
Speaking to Sky News, Umunna said the country is in "a crisis situation" and the people of the UK expect conflicting political groups to "come together" to find a way forward.
"That's why the Prime Minister convened the meeting and I welcome the fact she did so," he said.
"I think it's really extraordinary behaviour for the Leader of the Opposition to behave in really this kind of very juvenile way when the moment demands that we all step up and engage in some serious dialogue to find our way through this chaos and this mess.
"But he will have to explain his actions."
MP Chris Leslie, a member of the Independent Group, described Corbyn's refusal to engage in talks as "astonishing" and "petty".
He tweeted: "Astonishing. Yet again @jeremycorbyn puts petty party politics before the national interest."
SNP MP Stewart McDonald has told Corbyn to "get a grip" after his refusal to engage in talks with the Independent Group present.
He tweeted: "I mean honestly, nine days until the country he wants to be Prime Minister of leaves the EU and @jeremycorbyn has gone full 'you can't sit with us'.
"This isn't Mean Girls. Get a grip of your life, man!"
I mean honestly, nine days until the country he wants to be Prime Minister of leaves the EU and @jeremycorbyn has gone full ‘you can’t sit with us’. This isn’t Mean Girls. Get a grip of your life, man! https://t.co/20zPIMk33P
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) March 20, 2019
Vince Cable commented: "A cross-party group of Leaders for a #peoplesvote have invited @jeremycorbyn today to discuss the best way to secure a public vote with the option to Remain, and to enshrine Parliament’s rejection of No Deal in law. An opportunity for him to implement Labour conference policy."
On the meeting itself, Theresa May was accused by opposition leaders of offering no new solutions to end the deadlock.
Plaid Cymru’s @LSRPlaid tells me meeting between opposition parties and PM and Chief Whip was just a “tick box exercise”. She offered nothing new.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) March 20, 2019
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