Labour ploy to ‘have our cake and eat it’ on single market
LABOUR Brexit policy was mired in confusion yesterday after a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn said the UK could remain in the single market as part of a plan to “have our cake and eat it”.
Rebecca Long-bailey, the shadow business secretary, said it would be “fantastic” if a deal could be negotiated to allow the UK to stay in the single market and customs union.
However, John Mcdonnell, the shadow chancellor, has previously admitted that staying in the single market would be seen by voters as “not respecting” the result of the EU referendum.
The Tories said Labour’s Brexit policy was in a state of “shambles”.
Mr Corbyn was forced to sack three shadow ministers after they joined dozens of Labour MPS and defied the party whip by voting in favour of staying in the single market, in direct contravention of Labour policy.
The party pledged in its 2017 manifesto to try to retain the benefits of the single market and the customs union. The Labour leadership had appeared to accept that the UK could not remain a member of the market and also end freedom of movement, with the EU viewing the two issues as inextricably linked.
But Ms Long-bailey told Sunday Politics programme on BBC One that a “flexible” approach should be taken to negotiations and that the option of staying in the single market should remain open.
“I am not saying that option is completely off the table, because stranger things have happened,” she said.
“We have got to respect the result of the referendum. We have got to respect the will of the people in terms of having greater control over our laws, greater control over our borders.
“If we could negotiate an agreement on remaining in the single market that dealt with all of those issues, then that would be fantastic. Whether that’s likely remains to be seen.
“We want to retain the benefits that we currently have within the customs union. We want to have our cake and eat it – as do most parties in Westminster – in terms of being able to negotiate our own trade deals.”
Steve Baker, Brexit Minister, said the comments were further evidence that Labour MPS “do not accept the result of the referendum”.
He said: “This is a shambles, with members of Corbyn’s inner circle refusing to agree on anything.”