Turmoil in British politics as seven MPs defect amid Brexit chaos

REUTERS - Britain has seen further dispute over Brexit, with Labor lawmakers quitting and cabinet ministers urging a stop to the no-deal Brexit threat as talks between the country and the European Union move on. Seven Labor Party lawmakers announced to quit Monday over their leader Jeremy Corbyn's approach to Brexit, marking the most significant split of the main opposition group over the past 40 years. They claimed that Corbyn failed to promote a second referendum on Britain's decision to leave the EU and they would sit in Parliament as the Independent Group. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox arrived in Brussels Monday for a meeting with EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who later said the talks were "constructive". Barnier revealed that the two sides discussed the "Malthouse Compromise" and will have further talks later this week. The "Malthouse Compromise" was a plan promoted by British housing minister Kit Malthouse who united two warring factions of the Conservative Party over the Brexit plan. It is aimed to replace the alternative arrangements that seek to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland after Brexit. It would also involve extending the transition period for an extra year. British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to continue Brexit negotiations on Wednesday in Brussels. Before the talks, however, four cabinet ministers on Monday urged her to stop using the threat of a no-deal Brexit in the divorce negotiations, according to the Guardian report. Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union on March 29.