Labour Party vows new Brexit strategy if it wins polls

LONDON: Britain’s opposition Labour Party has said it will tear up the government’s negotiating plan for Brexit and guarantee all European Union citizens in the United Kingdom the right to stay if it wins the June 8 national election.

Prime Minister Theresa May says giving her Conservatives a bigger majority will strengthen Britain’s hand in EU divorce talks.

But Labour says May has weakened Britain’s position by ruling out remaining in the EU single market in goods and services.

The party’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, said yesterday that a Labour government would seek to retain the benefits of single-market membership.

He said it was “shameful” that Britain has not guaranteed that the three million EU citizens living in the United Kingdom would be able to stay, adding that a Labour government would make that guarantee “on day one”.

Britain and the EU have said securing the rights of Europeans in Britain would be a priority when divorce negotiations begin after the UK election.