Theresa May to ask opposition parties for help as Corbyn fires back

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has told Theresa May to read his party’s manifesto if she wants ideas, ahead of an expected call by the PM for cross-party cooperation on Tuesday.

A disastrous election campaign for the Conservatives has been compounded by reports of Tory ministers launching a leadership challenge against May.

Now the PM has asked for Labour and other parties in the House of Commons to contribute to Downing Street policy.

May will call for cooperation during a speech on the introduction of a new report into the gig economy on Tuesday.

"In this new context, it will be even more important to make the case for our policies and our values, and to win the battle of ideas both in parliament as well as in the country," the PM will say.

"So I say to the other parties in the House of Commons … come forward with your own views and ideas about how we can tackle these challenges as a country."

RAMPING UP THE PRESSURE

The Tories formed a confidence-and-supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party last month following the loss of their parliamentary majority, ramping up the pressure on May, who had called the snap election in order to strengthen the government’s position.

Her opposite number Corbyn mocked the call following the release of parts of May’s speech, suggesting the Conservatives are running out of ideas.

Corbyn said in the Commons: "I’m really surprised she had so much to contribute to the G20 given there was barely a mention of international policy in her party’s election manifesto. Or indeed any policy - so much so that the government is now asking other parties for their policy ideas.

"So, if the prime minister would like it, I would be very happy to furnish her with a copy of our election manifesto - or better still an early election, in order that the people of this country can better decide."