'Answer me!' Humiliation as minister fails to explain Corbyn's Brexit plan FIVE times
EMMA BARNETT roasted a Labour minister who failed to answer five times Jeremy Corbyn’s plan for Brexit.
Labour MP embarrassed as he fails to explain Corbyn's Brexit plan
The radio host put shadow international trade minister Bill Esterson on the spot as she repeatedly quizzed him on whether Labour wanted to leave the single market and customs union.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, Ms Barnett grew increasingly frustrated as she failed to get a straight answer.
She said: “Are you saying we won’t leave the customs union or the single market, or we will? Just a very straight answer on that.”
Mr Esterson said the country would remain part of both during the transitional period with the European Union.
Emma Barnett repeatedly asked Labour minister Bill Esterson to explain Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit plan
You can’t keep repeating the same sentence. I actually have not got an answer in that sentence
He said: “During the transitional period it’s clear that we’re going to have the same relationship with the customs union so by definition, we’re going to be a part of the customs union and single market during that transitional period.
“That’s the point of the traditional period, isn’t it. We have to negotiate during that period.”
Ms Barnett looked for clarity and asked how long Labour would want to remain in both.
She said: “Sorry, so Labour’s position is this, you want to stay in the customs union and the single market beyond March 2019 in the transitional period?”
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Asked when the transitional period started from Labour’s point of view, Mr Esterson replied March 31 2019.
The presenter added: “So we’re not going to leave in March 2019, if Labour were in charge, of the customs union or single market?
“Sorry could you just answer that? Yes or no?”
After Mr Esterson said the detail of whether the UK was a member of the single market and customs union wasn’t the point, Ms Barnett added it “really, really is”.
After being asked once more, Mr Esterson said the decision was subject to negotiation with the EU.
He said: “We want to have exactly the same relationship that we currently have to benefit business and to benefit jobs in Britain and that’s the most important part.”
Ms Barnett pushed once again.
She said: “So you have answered my question, you’re not leaving it?”
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Mr Esterson continued to be ambiguous and said: “No, I haven’t said that, I’ve said it’s what we negotiate with the European Union.”
Ms Barnett started to lose her cool and accused the minister of being on repeat.
She said: “You can’t keep repeating the same sentence. I actually have not got an answer in that sentence.”
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have shot ahead of Labour in the opinion polls again amid signs that the Jeremy Corbyn bubble has burst.
According to a BMG Research poll the Conservatives under Theresa May are on 42 per cent while Labour has plunged to 39 per cent after a post election blip put Mr Corbyn’s extreme Left party ahead.
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