Contradictions within Labour over stance on the UK remaining in the Single Market

SENIOR FIGURES in the Labour party have indicated they are softening their stance on staying in the Single Market, in the latest sign of turmoil over the party’s official Brexit policy.

The Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer, who has stated on several occasions that no option “should be taken off the table” in negotiations, has now urged the party to be “flexible” in its approach.

The Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has reaffirmed his commitment to securing tarifffree access to European markets, adding “we are not ruling anything out”.

Both positions seem to be in direct conflict with the views expressed by leader Jeremy Corbyn, who stated just last weekend that Brexit marks the end of membership of the Single Market and to the principle of free movement.

They also appear to contradict the argument made by Shadow Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner, who said staying in the customs union would render the UK a “vassal state”.

The fresh signs of division come as the Yorkshire MEP Richard Corbett calls on the left to take the “lead” in resisting Brexit. Writing for the website LabourList, he argues leaving the EU holds “no advantage” for the left, and criticises Labour supporters who dismiss those in favour of a “soft” Brexit as “Blairite”.

“Tearing ourselves out of the EU single market and customs union will be a costly and damaging exercise,” he writes. “The left should be leading on this, not allowing ourselves to be dragged along by a neo-liberal Tory agenda.”