Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn would like the debate to air on ITV at 5pm so people can still watch reality show I'm a Celebrity. Photo / AP
Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn would like the debate to air on ITV at 5pm so people can still watch reality show I'm a Celebrity. Photo / AP
How far apart are Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit?
So far that they can't even agree on which television station should host their upcoming debate on the issue.
After months of negotiation, May and her European counterparts recently unveiled a draft agreement onthe terms of Britain's divorce from the European Union. Their proposal lays out how Britain will leave the EU, what will happen to EU nationals living in Britain and what Britain has to pay the EU to make the divorce final.
The deal is spectacularly unpopular (one Guardian columnist called it a "dog's dinner of a deal," and that's among the more polite epithets) and may not win Parliament's approval despite May's best efforts. She has debated the issue with politicians, hosted exhaustive government meetings, and traveled to Scotland and Northern Ireland to speak.
She even agreed to a debate on the issue with one of her main political rivals, Corbyn.
The thing is, the two can't seem to figure out what that will look like.
May agreed to go on the BBC on December 9 to debate the deal. In exchange, BBC One said it would clear its evening, even postponing the season finale of David Attenborough's Dynasties program.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to go on the BBC. Photo / AP
The BBC suggested a head-to-head debate conducted by a panel of people on all sides of the issue. Those with alternative proposals, such as a second Brexit vote, would have a chance to air their thoughts on another show later in the evening.
Corbyn, on the other hand, said he preferred an offer from rival ITV. ITV said it would show the debate at 5pm, not 8. It proposed a single moderator and no audience questions. This format worked better, Corbyn told ITV's This Morning, because it would let folks watch I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here, a popular reality show. The season finale is set to air on ITV on December 9.
"One should always have respect for the viewers," Corbyn said.
I'm a Celebrity sends celebrities to live in the jungle for a couple of weeks. This season includes John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness on the science-fiction show Doctor Who, and Rita Simons, who played Roxy Mitchell on EastEnders. They camp and compete in disgusting challenges, such as eating bugs.
Recent controversies have included whether it is appropriate for one of the male stars to blame a fight he had with a female contestant about how much rice to cook on her period and whether a male star should have to hang a pair of wet women's underwear on a line to dry.
The House of Commons will vote December 11 on the government motion to approve the Brexit agreement.
