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| Labour MPs to join SNP, Greens and Plaid to resist single market exit | Labour MPs to join SNP, Greens and Plaid to resist single market exit |
| (7 months later) | |
| Dozens from official opposition party want a softer Brexit than is proposed by Theresa May’s government and Labour’s frontbench | |
| Anushka Asthana Political editor | |
| Mon 26 Jun 2017 23.05 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 20 Sep 2017 08.21 BST | |
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| Dozens of Labour MPs are preparing to team up with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens to back an amendment to the Queen’s speech calling for Britain to remain in the EU customs union and single market. | Dozens of Labour MPs are preparing to team up with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens to back an amendment to the Queen’s speech calling for Britain to remain in the EU customs union and single market. |
| The politicians are hoping to coalesce around wording being put forward by Labour backbenchers, which lays out plans for a softer form of Brexit than is being proposed by both Theresa May’s government and their own frontbench. | The politicians are hoping to coalesce around wording being put forward by Labour backbenchers, which lays out plans for a softer form of Brexit than is being proposed by both Theresa May’s government and their own frontbench. |
| The MPs say they regret that the speech “does not rule out withdrawal from the EU without a deal; guarantee a parliamentary vote on any final outcome to negotiations; or set out transitional arrangements to maintain jobs, trade and certainty for business”. | The MPs say they regret that the speech “does not rule out withdrawal from the EU without a deal; guarantee a parliamentary vote on any final outcome to negotiations; or set out transitional arrangements to maintain jobs, trade and certainty for business”. |
| They want membership of the customs union and of the single market to be maintained, but also urge more respect for the devolved nations in the process of exiting the EU. | They want membership of the customs union and of the single market to be maintained, but also urge more respect for the devolved nations in the process of exiting the EU. |
| The amendment could yet win the backing of the Liberal Democrats. | The amendment could yet win the backing of the Liberal Democrats. |
| The MPs also want “clear protections for EU nationals living in the UK now, including retaining their right to remain in the UK, and reciprocal rights for UK citizens”. | The MPs also want “clear protections for EU nationals living in the UK now, including retaining their right to remain in the UK, and reciprocal rights for UK citizens”. |
| The amendment will not necessarily be picked for debate, but the decision of so many Labour MPs to back it could be a headache for the party leadership, which is attempting to maintain a nuanced position over the question of single market membership. | The amendment will not necessarily be picked for debate, but the decision of so many Labour MPs to back it could be a headache for the party leadership, which is attempting to maintain a nuanced position over the question of single market membership. |
| Speaking in the Queen’s speech debate in parliament on Monday, shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer urged the government to drop its “no deal mantra” – warning that no agreement with the EU27 would be the equivalent of being pushed over a cliff. | Speaking in the Queen’s speech debate in parliament on Monday, shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer urged the government to drop its “no deal mantra” – warning that no agreement with the EU27 would be the equivalent of being pushed over a cliff. |
| And he criticised the government’s legislative agenda, saying it was “threadbare and lacks ambition”. | And he criticised the government’s legislative agenda, saying it was “threadbare and lacks ambition”. |
| “There is no detail, there can’t be because the prime minister gambled and lost. A majority became a minority, all bets are off for the future,” said Starmer. | “There is no detail, there can’t be because the prime minister gambled and lost. A majority became a minority, all bets are off for the future,” said Starmer. |
| But some Labour MPs are frustrated that Starmer did not go further on the issue of remaining in the single market. | But some Labour MPs are frustrated that Starmer did not go further on the issue of remaining in the single market. |
| Starmer told the Guardian he believes in the importance of “function rather than form” – meaning he wants to replicate the benefits of the single market and customs union, without necessarily remaining a member. | Starmer told the Guardian he believes in the importance of “function rather than form” – meaning he wants to replicate the benefits of the single market and customs union, without necessarily remaining a member. |
| If the amendment is picked, it will win a large amount of opposition support – but Tories are unlikely to vote against their party on the Queen’s speech itself. | If the amendment is picked, it will win a large amount of opposition support – but Tories are unlikely to vote against their party on the Queen’s speech itself. |
| However, a number of Conservative MPs could work with other parties to push for a soft Brexit after this week’s vote is passed. | However, a number of Conservative MPs could work with other parties to push for a soft Brexit after this week’s vote is passed. |
| Tory MP Anna Soubry, a remainer, told parliament that her own frontbench had to “wake up and understand that things have now changed – the rhetoric has to be dropped”. | Tory MP Anna Soubry, a remainer, told parliament that her own frontbench had to “wake up and understand that things have now changed – the rhetoric has to be dropped”. |
| She said she had warned colleagues that they would be punished electorally for failing to consider those who opposed Brexit, and said she was sorry to have been proved right on 8 June. | She said she had warned colleagues that they would be punished electorally for failing to consider those who opposed Brexit, and said she was sorry to have been proved right on 8 June. |
| “I warned of the dangers of ignoring the 48% and the young in particular,” she said. “Many young people who voted remain believe an older generation have stolen their future.” | “I warned of the dangers of ignoring the 48% and the young in particular,” she said. “Many young people who voted remain believe an older generation have stolen their future.” |
| Soubry urged the Labour party to stand up and fight for the customs union if it believed in the benefits of it. | Soubry urged the Labour party to stand up and fight for the customs union if it believed in the benefits of it. |
| And she argued that people who voted remain were resigned to the outcome, but that her plea was for opponents to “come together to get the best deal in the national interest”. | And she argued that people who voted remain were resigned to the outcome, but that her plea was for opponents to “come together to get the best deal in the national interest”. |
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| Labour | |
| Scottish National party (SNP) | |
| Plaid Cymru | |
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| Theresa May | |
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