SINGLE MINDED
Corbyn stuns colleagues by claiming that staying in the EU market is incompatible with socialism
JEREMY Corbyn picked a fight over Europe with senior Labour figures yesterday by suggesting staying in the EU’s single market is incompatible with socialism.
His comments at Labour’s conference in Dundee provoked an immediate backlash from a new Labour group set up to push the party towards staying in the single market, which comes with freedom of movement for people and trade.
On the fringes of the conference, MPs, MEPs and MSPs clashed as the party try to work out where they stand on Brexit.
Corbyn, in the main hall, took the opportunity to hammer home his message to pro-EU members.
He said: “We are determined to negotiate a deal that gives us full tariff-free access to the single market.
“But if we are genuinely going to have a jobs-first Brexit, that deal must be compatible with our plans to bring the railways and postal service into full public ownership, transform energy markets and end the privatisation of our public services.
“And we also need to be clear, we could not accept a situation where we were subject to all EU rules and EU law – yet had no say in making those laws.
“That would leave us as mere rule-takers and isn’t a tenable position for a democracy.”
His position rules out the relationship like one between Norway and the EU, favoured by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as a way of holding off the worst of a “hard Brexit” with no deal.
Norway is in the European Economic Area, which means they get access to the single market but must accept EU rules.
Corbyn was the main draw at the three-day Scottish Labour conference at the Caird Hall.
One hour before he spoke, two meetings were held with senior Labour members making the case for staying in the single market.
East Lothian MP Martin Whitfield pushed the case for freedom of movement and goods.
And Euro MP Catherine Stihler, chairwoman of the Scottish Labour for the Single Market group, said there is “no left-wing argument” for leaving, adding: “The rules of the single market do not prevent public ownership. Indeed, national governments across the continent have ownership stakes in many sectors, including energy, rail and water companies.
“Leaving the single market could cost the UK economy £45billion a year, reducing the amount of money available to governments in Westminster and Holyrood.
“And while some voters are angry about immigration, it is the job of the Labour Party to challenge antiimmigrant sentiment and promote the benefits to our economy and public services.
“There is no left-wing case for leaving the European single market. If we want to fund our radical manifestos to deliver governments for the many, not the few, we must
support permanent UK membership of the European single market and the customs union.”
Corbyn has already accepted he wants to remain in a customs union with EU, which should ease trade between borders.
The party went into the conference arguing about whether
members will be denied a vote over the single market.
In one fringe meeting, Stihler clashed with former Labour MP Ian Davidson, who accused her of lying over Europe.
Davidson said: “It’s a suggestion being put forward by your campaign that people are being deprived of the right to vote. That is not true. What you’re saying is simply false.”
The pro-single market group includes ex-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray.
Labour’s opponents said the party has split. The SNP’s Clare Haughey said: “Nothing we heard today from Jeremy Corbyn can disguise the fact that he and Labour are backing the Tories’ plans to take Scotland out of the single market against our will.
“Rather than taking action to help block that looming disaster, they are supporting plans to leave the single market – which the UK Government admit will have a devastating impact on Scotland’s economy.
“Labour’s eagerness to support the Tory Brexit plans is shameful and utterly inexcusable.”
Scottish Tory MSP Maurice Golden said: “Labour’s splits on Brexit are becoming deeper by the day. Jeremy Corbyn’s speech was a clear swipe at former leader Kezia Dugdale on her latest Brexit stunt.
“Given Ian Murray’s such a keen supporter of the single market, it seems Labour’s leader and most senior Scottish MP are at bitter odds.
“In the perfect environment for Labour to have an open and honest debate about this, extreme-left bosses have silenced them.”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “Jeremy Corbyn can hardly contain his enthusiasm for Brexit. When he criticises Theresa May on Brexit with his words he is cheering her on in his heart.
“He thinks he can con proEuropeans but a Corbyn Brexit is just like a May Brexit. It will cost jobs and damage our economy.”