Labour splits on policy ahead of conference

Scottish Labour faces a growing row in party ranks after senior MPS published a report voicing concerns over its approach to Brexit.

The party’s Edinburgh MP Ian Murray accused Jeremy Corbyn of wanting to “have his cake and eat it” yesterday as he called for the party to support staying in the EU single market after Brexit. This is not current policy although Mr Corbyn recently backed a post-b rex it customs union.

A hard Brexit could cost an average worker in Scotland £116 by 2020, new research carried out for Mr Murray by campaign organisation Open Britain indicates. The study claims income losses following a no deal Brexit could hit more than £1,010 by 2027 and forecasts a cumulative drop of more than £15,615 by 2034.

Mr Murray is co-founder of the Scottish Labour for the Single Market group with former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, which wants to stay in the customs union and single market after leaving the EU. The formation of the group puts pressure on party leader Richard Leonard ahead of this weekend’s party conference in Dundee.

Mr Murray said: “This reveals that any sort of Brexit will leave families across Scotland worse off and a ‘no deal’ Brexit could cost the average worker £116-a-year in 2020.”