Labour calls out Deal or No Deal PM’s transition mess

Starmer sidesteps stand-off

AS Brexit becomes a deal/no deal stand-off, Labour is to force Theresa May to redo key bits of her EU Withdrawal Bill.

The party says it’s no longer fit for purpose as it does not include two-year transition arrangements.

The PM now accepts that as inevitable if Britain is not to fall off a cliff at midnight on March 31, 2019.

Mrs May adopted Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer’s plan to keep Britain in the EU’s single market and customs union until 2021. Now he’s to push for a Commons vote with Tory support to get that written into the Bill.

Mr Starmer told Brexit Count- down: “It’s what business wants. It’s the pragmatic approach given the lack of progress.”

But the Cabinet is becoming more convinced there’ll be no deal and we’ll be out of the EU on our ear. Chancellor Philip Hammond says that might mean UK planes grounded on April Fool’s Day 2019 as they’ll no longer be covered by EU safety regs.

That’s unlikely, but Brits would lose their right to compensation for cancelled flights or repatriation if an airline collapses. And you won’t be able to drive in Europe on British insurance. The CE mark certifying products as safe will disappear, and you’ll pay mobile roaming charges in the EU.

We will also leave the rapid alert system for dangerous products, and the EU system that performs a similar function for drugs. That could lead to medicine rationing. The good news is we won’t have to pay a multi-million-pound divorce bill. The other good news is to avoid the bad news you’ll still be able to hide under a duvet for free.

Tory infighting over Brexit is putting Britain on a path to “economic disaster” says Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn.

Okay, The Banker says.. no, actually, he’s just laughing hysterically..

PRAGMATIC Starmer to push for Commons vote