Labour wants a close new partnership with EU

COMMENT THIS weekend over 1,000 Labour activists will be gathering at the party’s annual conference in Dundee for the first time since the general election.

It’s a chance to reflect on the significant achievements of Scottish Labour in last 12 months. It is also a chance to discuss the challenges ahead.

Brexit must be front-andcentre of that debate.

In the 18 months that I have been shadow Brexit secretary, I have travelled across the UK listening to the views of Labour members and supporters. Those conversations have been central to developing our policy and it’s vital that open dialogue continues, including in Dundee this weekend.

With thousands of Labour and trade union colleagues from across the UK, I campaigned passionately for Remain.

My constituency, like Scotland, voted to remain. And, like many others, I was deeply disappointed when the result was declared.

The question now is not about whether we remain or leave. It is about what our future relationship with the European Union should be. The answer to that question will define us across the UK for many years to come.

Labour wants to build a close new partnership with the EU, based on our values of internationalism, solidarity and equality.

Priorities matter. Labour has consistently argued for an approach that puts jobs and the economy first; that maintains and extends rights, standards and protections.

We have long argued too that Brexit should not, and cannot, lead to a Westminster powergrab or threaten the devolution settlement in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

At the heart of Labour’s approach is a clear commitment to a deal that maintains the benefits of the single market and the customs union.

First, by negotiating a comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure that there are no tariffs with our EU partners and to help to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland.

Second, by negotiating a strong relationship with the single market, which maintains full access to European markets, avoids any new impediments to trade and, importantly, does not permit any reduction in rights, standards and protections.

We recognise the huge economic benefits that have come from our trading relationship with the EU. In Scotland that relationship is worth £20 billion a year in exports and imports to the EU.

That’s why Labour has always insisted that the economic and social benefits of our current relationship with the single market and customs union must be hardwired into the final agreement.