Theresa May deals triple blow to Tory hardliners

The second, bigger blow for the Eurosceptics came when the prime minister opened the door to a softer Brexit, announcing cross-party talks with Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, to try to find a mutually acceptable exit deal. And in a third setback for the Brexiters, Mrs May said that, if cross-party talks failed, she would hold a run-off in the Commons between her thrice-rejected Brexit deal and a so-far undefined alternative — almost certain to be a softer option including a customs union with the EU.