UK opposition Labour backs soft Brexit, putting pressure on May

london — The opposition Labour Party says it would keep Britain in the European single market and customs union for a transitional period after Brexit, offering a clear alternative to the policies of Prime Minister Theresa May.

The centre-left party would seek to maintain the “same basic terms” with the European Union, including the free movement of people, beyond March 2019 when Britain is set to leave the bloc, Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said on Sunday.

Labour wanted to avoid a damaging “cliff edge” for the economy from an abrupt separation in less than two years.

It would also aim to keep a form of customs union with the EU, and would possibly agree a new relationship with the single market, subject to negotiations, Starmer added in the Observer newspaper.

Senior ministers in May’s Conservative government have ruled

that is why a transitional period under Labour will be as short as possible, but as long as necessary.” Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman

out remaining in the single market and customs union during any transitional phase following Brexit.

Starmer said following EU rules for a period would allow goods and services to continue to flow between the EU and Britain without tariffs, customs checks or additional red tape.

Starmer’s comments follow months of uncertainty and division on Labour’s position, and are aimed at providing a springboard for party leader Jeremy Corbyn to potentially defeat the Conservatives in any new election.

May’s grip on power has been weakened following a botched early general election in June in which she lost her parliamentary majority, making it harder for her government to maintain a united stance on Brexit.

Labour recognised that a transitional deal would not provide long-term certainty, Starmer said, and it would not resolve the question of migration, one of the key issues for voters in the referendum in 2016.

“That is why a transitional period under Labour will be as short as possible, but as long as necessary,” he added. —