Economy at risk outside single market: MP
A HARD Brexit without the protection of the single market and the customs union poses an economic threat to Britain which is “unparalleled in recent times”, the SNP Westminster leader has warned.
Ian Blackford called on Labour to get behind the stance of the SNP and others in arguing Britain should stay in the single market and the customs union.
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber said: “The first thing we’re going to do is have the transition deal. The EU is making it clear through that transition deal we will remain in the single market and the customs union. That will create the pathway for us doing that over the longer term and I believe is consistent with the vote that took place in the UK last year.”
Speaking on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “What we want Labour to do is get behind us and others that are arguing that we should stay in the single market and the customs union.
“If you look at the agreement that has come forward over the last few days about full alignment in order to deal with the Irish question, the simple answer to that is to stay within the single market and the customs union.”
Meanwhile, the shadow Brexit secretary has said Britain should “stay aligned” to the European Union after Brexit and there may
have to be payments and easy movement of people in order to retain the benefits of the single market and the customs union, .
Sir Keir Starmer signalled his support for a ‘soft’ Brexit, stating: “We do have a choice, do we want to stay aligned so that we can trade successfully or do we want to tear apart, and I say we should stay aligned.”
Labour, he insisted, had been “very clear” that the party wanted a partnership that “retains the benefits of the single market and the customs union”, and wanted a new treaty.
Speaking on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Sir Keir said: “We would start with viable options, staying in a customs union and a single market variant which means full participation in the single market,” adding that it was the only way to achieve no hard border in Northern Ireland.
He went on: “You can’t sweep the customs union and the single market off the table on the one hand and also say you don’t want a hard border in Northern Ireland. You can’t have no hard border if you don’t have alignment.”
Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “Keir Starmer could not have been clearer about what the consequences of Labour’s chaotic approach to Brexit would be.
“A Labour Brexit would mean billions of pounds going to the EU in perpetuity, the UK being forced to obey rules over which we have no say, and zero control over our borders.
“A Labour Brexit would betray voters and leave this country in the worst possible position.
“Just as we agree a deal which will mean getting control of our laws, money and borders, Labour want to take us back to square one.”