POLITICS

Labour confusion after leader’s remarks on staying in single market

But in a BBC interview the party leader was asked what would happen after that.

He said: “We want a relationship which allows us to trade within the single market. Whether that is formal membership – which is only possible, I believe, if you are actually a member of the EU – or whether it is an agreed trading relationship, is open for discussion.”

Mr Corbyn has previously said the UK would have to leave the single market because it was “inextricably linked” with EU membership. However, his latest remarks suggest the Labour leader has not closed his mind to the so-called “Norway option,” whereby Britain becomes a member of the European Economic Area, where it would have access to the single market, pay a fee but have no vote over the EU’s rules.

Crucially, under this option people from the EU would be free to work and live in the UK.

But shortly after Mr Corbyn made his comments, a spokesman for the Labour leader insisted the party’s position had not changed and there was no question of the UK being a member of the single market once the transition period was completed.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer had previously said Labour was “flexible” about adopting a new single market relationship or a bespoke trade deal after transition, yet Mr Corbyn’s comments appeared to go further and open up the possibility of a Norway-style arrangement, in which the UK could be in the single market but not the EU.

However, his spokesman later issued a clarification, saying: “We won’t be ‘members’ of the single market after the transition. We want to achieve full tariff-free access to the single market. That could be achieved by a new relationship with the single market or a bespoke trade deal with the EU.”

Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to give a major speech on Brexit and the Government’s approach to the planned transition period towards the end of next week.

Jeremy Corbyn will address TUC in Brighton.