LABOUR SHAMBLES: Now McDonnell says party could thwart Brexit and STAY in single market
JOHN MCDONNELL admitted the UK could remain within the single market after Brexit if Labour has its way in a shocking U-turn by the party.
John McDonnell: We CAN get a tariff-free EU trade deal
The shadow chancellor admitted the party was “ruling nothing out” on membership to the single market.
The comments contradict those of Jeremy Corbyn who finally ruled out wanting to stay in the European Union’s internal market on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC News, Mr McDonnell said tariff-free access was Labour’s objective whether that meant remaining in the single market or not.
He said: “The position for us is straightforward. Our objective is tariff-free access to the market and that’s been our objective from immediately after the referendum.
John McDonnell said he did not
We’re not ruling anything out
“In fact I made a speech within nine days of the referendum saying exactly that.
“The structures are a secondary matter, whether we’re in, whether we’re out, it’s got to achieve those objectives.
"We’re not ruling anything out but what we’re saying is we’re the fifth largest economy in the world, we have a special status in both our relationship with Europe and the rest of the globe.
“So therefore we feel we can get a deal that achieves tariff-free access and the issue of structures is secondary.”
Mr Corbyn had previously dodged the question on whether he would leave the single market and customs union.
But speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on the BBC, he said: “The single market is dependent on membership of the EU.
“What we’ve said all along is that we want a tariff free trade access to the European market and a partnership with Europe in the future.”
Marr sought more clarification as he pushed the party leader on the subject.
Jeremy Corbyn rules out single market membership after Brexit
He asked: “To be absolutely crystal clear, we leave the single European market because we leave the EU. So we have to leave the single market?”
Mr Corbyn revealed he would push for tariff free trade access to the market instead of membership.
He said: “The two things are inextricably linked. So the question is the kind of trade relationship in the future and we’ve made it very clear we want a tariff free trade access with the European market."