Jeremy Corbyn to FINALLY show Brexit hand with ‘significant’ policy that Leavers will HATE
JEREMY Corbyn will finally reveal Labour’s plans for Brexit next week after months of sidestepping the issue and refusing to give details about his party’s policy for Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Jeremy Corbyn rejects Norway style Brexit
Shadow ministers have been sworn to secrecy ahead of a major speech next Monday but there are suggestions Mr Corbyn could be about to bow to pressure and announce Labour’s backing for staying in the EU single market and customs union.
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith hinted at a change in policy during on ITV’s Good Morning Britain when he said he would prefer Labour’s Brexit policy to be to remain in the single market and the customs union.
Pushed on whether this put him at odds with Mr Corbyn, he replied: “No, I think Jeremy’s position is evolving and deepening.”
Mr Corbyn aides are tired of fending of complaints about the party’s policy being too vague with a number of frontbenchers suffering uncomfortable interviews in which they have been unable to discuss Labour’s Brexit plans in any detail.
I think Jeremy’s position is evolving and deepening
Labour’s manifesto last year promised “fresh negotiating priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the single market and the customs union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain.
"Labour will always put jobs and the economy first”.
Since the election Mr Corbyn has refused to back a policy of remaining in the customs union with the rest of the EU but earlier this week he appeared to suggest he was leaning towards a softer Brexit.
He told a conference in London: “We have to have access to European markets, we have to have a customs union that makes sure we can continue that trade, particularly between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. That is key to it.”
Critics would be quick to accuse Labour of attempting its own “cake and eat it” policy which have been much derided in Brussels.
Mr Corbyn’s decision to make a speech comes in the middle of a series of speeches by senior Conservative cabinet ministers on their “road map” for Brexit.
A party insider said: “It’s a significant moment in the development of Labour Party policy. “It will set out the principles we would want to achieve in the negotiation and how this fits into our wider agenda for change for the economy.”
Downing Street has always feared the biggest threat to Theresa May’s Brexit plans came from hardline Brexiteers pushing for a clean break from the EU.
But it would only take a handful of Tory MPs to back a motion on staying in the customs union to threaten the Government’s majority and Brexit rebels such as Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke lead a backbench group keen on keeping Britain in the customs union by tabling amendments to the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill.