Labour’s show of unity as party claims credit for PM’S speech

LABOUR attempted to take the credit for Theresa May’s Florence speech last night, claiming it was identical to an article written by Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary.

Unusually, the party was united on the issue of leaving the European Union, stating the Prime Minister should have committed to a transitional period a year ago.

Voices on the Right, Left and centre of the party came together after months of confusion over Brexit to claim Mrs May’s speech offered nothing new.

Jenny Chapman, the shadow Brexit minister said Mrs May, “could just as easily have Whatsapp-ed Keir Starmer’s article from The Observer and said exactly the same thing”.

Jeremy Corbyn said the speech showed only that she had, “listened to Labour and faced up to the reality that Britain needs a transition on the same basic terms to provide stability for businesses and workers”. Mr Corbyn added: “That’s because Theresa May and her Conservative Cabinet colleagues are spending more time negotiating with each other rather than with the EU.”

The surprise show of unity comes after months of confusion over where the party stands on Brexit, largely prompted by Mr Corbyn’s ambiguity around whether the UK should seek permanent membership of the single market and customs union or not.

Tom Watson, the deputy leader of the party, said Labour is the party of “soft Brexit”, adding it should seek to remain inside both organisations even after Brexit. However this position was later slapped down by Mr Corbyn’s office, which made clear that while Britain should stay in both during the transition period, anything else is up for negotiation. Now the party faces a crunch vote at its conference this weekend when MPS Alison Mcgovern and Heidi Alexander, coupled with unions and local party groups, attempt to force the leader to back a pledge to continue membership of both.

In doing so Mr Corbyn would have to accept continued freedom of movement, which concerns Labour MPS in the North and Midlands, whose constituencies backed the decision to leave and

‘The speech she gave today had one hell of a build-up and it was very, very weak, disappointing and empty’

want to see tougher rules on migration.

But the party was united in panning Mrs May’s speech, which was billed as a chance to re-set the negotiations with Brussels. Chris Leslie MP, who has spoken out in favour of a softer Brexit, said: “Need for transition pre-brexit was obvious more than year ago. Today’s begrudging acknowledgement from PM says little about long-term deal.”

Ms Chapman added: “We are 18 months in, the speech she gave today had one hell of a build-up and it was very, very weak, disappointing, empty and ... clearly leaves so many questions unanswered, and I think many people will be scratching their heads and wondering what on earth the fuss has been about with this speech. Beyond committing to transition, which frankly everybody knew was an inevitability, there really wasn’t very much to it.”