Hanna urges Labour MPs ‘to act for sake of peace’
THE SDLP has written to all of Jeremy Corbyn’s MPs, warning them that his current approach to Brexit will not prevent a hard border with the Republic.
The party beseeched Labour MPs to back a plan to stay aligned with the single market — which Mr Corbyn himself has refused to support. SDLP Brexit spokesperson Claire Hanna urged Labour MPs to act for the sake of peace in Northern Ireland and not for “British political convenience”.
It comes amid a deepening row within Labour’s ranks about its approach to Brexit, sparked when dozens of Labour Lords went against Mr Corbyn’s will and voted to pass a proposal to keep the UK in the European Economic Area (EEA). Tory MPs believe they have enough rebels to pass the plan — which would effectively keep Britain in the single market — through the Commons and make it law, as long as Labour also backs it.
Labour’s current position is that it “respects” the referendum, that Britain’s EU membership must end, that the country should remain outside the single market and leave customs union to negotiate a new bespoke customs relationship. But in her letter, Ms Hanna explains that she is writing on behalf of the entire SDLP to urge Labour MPs to back the EEA amendment, when it eventually comes to a vote in the Commons.
She added: “(A hard border) will only be prevented if we retain full access and full alignment with the single market and customs union.
“No other solution is possible. As a sister party of the Labour Party, the SDLP is urging Labour to use this opportunity to act in all of our interests by remaining in the EEA.”
But when asked if Mr Corbyn would back the amendment, his spokesman said it was “not what we are proposing”. The spokesman explained that staying in the EEA could undermine a future Labour government’s ability “to intervene” in UK industries.