Jeremy Corbyn mocked Theresa May’s dancefloor diplomacy as he warned the Prime Minister “can’t keep dancing round all the issues” over Brexit.
The Labour leader added companies such as Panasonic have “taken the cue and decided to dance off altogether” amid concerns about the impact of the UK leaving the European Union.
She also claimed Mr Corbyn “can’t even agree with himself” on his Brexit position and challenged him twice to rule out a second EU referendum.
Brexit dominated the leaders’ exchanges during the first Prime Minister’s Questions since MPs returned after the summer recess.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Corbyn raised differing views held by Cabinet ministers over the impact of a no deal – including warnings from Chancellor Philip Hammond about the economic consequences and Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab’s belief of the emergence of “countervailing opportunities”.
The opposition leader sidestepped questions over a second referendum – with Mrs May at one stage demanding he stood up to “rule out” another vote – before telling the PM: “A majority of people might have voted to leave but they expected the negotiations to be handled competently and they certainly are not.
“I didn’t hear a single one of these countervailing opportunities. I say to the Prime Minister quite simply this: she can’t keep dancing round all the issues.”
Opposition MPs burst into laughter while Mrs May initially shook her head before chuckling.
Mr Corbyn went on: “It seems that Panasonic have taken the cue and decided to dance off altogether – they’re relocating out of this country.
“Could the Prime Minister tell the House how many other companies have been in touch with her or her ministerial team and told her privately that they intend to relocate in the absence of a serious sensible deal with the European Union?”
She added Mr Corbyn had given mixed messages over trade deals and free movement, claiming: “He can’t even agree with himself on his own position.”
The PM later reiterated the Government and EU are “still working” to the agreed timetable of a deal by October.
In his final remarks, Mr Corbyn said no deal is a bad deal before noting: “The Chequers proposal is dead – already ripped apart by her own MPs.
“When will the Prime Minister publish a real plan that survives contact with her Cabinet and with reality?”
She added: “What I’m doing is negotiating a Brexit deal for Britain.
“I’m making sure that the economy works for everyone, I’m building a stronger, fairer country.
“What is (he) doing? He is trying to change his party so anti-Semites can call the creation of Israel racist and he should be ashamed of himself.”
Conservative former Brexit minister Steve Baker later urged the Prime Minister to instruct Government departments to prioritise domestic preparedness.
“With exit day fast approaching will (Mrs May) now give instructions to the whole of Government that the first priority of every department must be domestic preparedness whether we leave the EU with a deal or without?”
Mrs May sought to assure Mr Baker that DExEU had “stepped up the work on preparations”, and said: “We are ensuring that our preparations are being made and our preparations are made for every eventuality.
“We are working for a good deal – we prepare for every eventuality.”
