'It isn't about you!' Chuka Umunna BLASTED by Sky host over Corbyn's Brexit strategy
CHUKA UMUNNA faced a brutal grilling by Sky presenter Sarah-Jane Mee over Labour’s Brexit stance following contradictory views over Britain’s access to the single market after Brexit.
'It isn't about you!' Host slams Chuka Umunna over Brexit policy
The heated exchange began when Labour MP Chuka Umunna claimed he supports Britain remaining in the single market and customs union after Brexit.
But Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn abstained from voting on an amendment to the EU withdrawal bill on Wednesday that would mean Britain remaining in the single market.
Sky News’ Sarah-Jane Mee hit out at the Labour Party and said: “Chuka, that’s all well and good but your leader Jeremy Corbyn abstained on the single market vote so, again, how do you sell it to your fellow MPs in the Labour Party?”
The MP for Streatham said the Liberal Democrats were “trying to play politics” with the amendment, which would explain why Corbyn didn’t vote on it.
Chuka Umunna faced criticism for Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit strategy
Mr Umunna said: “I voted for it because I made a solemn pledge to the people of Streatham in the general election that I would do everything to fight to keep us in the single market and the customs union.
“But Labour’s manifesto is clear about this - Labour wishes to retain the benefits of the single market and the customs union.”
Ms Mee said: “But why isn’t your leader more clear about it then? Why isn’t your leader more clear about it then? He abstained from the vote. He could’ve been a bit clearer.”
Mr Umunna said he has been “very clear all along” but is interrupted by Ms Mee who said “we aren’t talking about you”.
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Ms Mee said: “We are talking about Jeremy Corbyn, who is trying to shape the Labour Party and says he has plans for Brexit that people in the Labour Party will listen to, as again, no disrespect, perhaps a little bit more than you.”
Mr Umunna said he is a “humble backbencher” and would like the Labour Party to go further and commit to being in the single market and customs union after Brexit.
He said: “At the moment we’ve said that all options should be kept on the table in respect of our future relationship with the European Union. And that single market membership and customs union membership should be kept on the table.
“I want us to stop prevaricating. I would prefer that the Government committed to being in the single market and customs union permanently.”
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said following the vote that Labour had “let down” British workers.
He said: “This ends any pretence that Jeremy Corbyn is fighting for us to stay in the single market,” he said. “He whipped his MPs to support the Conservatives, sitting on his hands rather than voting against their extreme Brexit plans.”