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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Corbyn says staying in single market ‘open for discussion’ | Jeremy Corbyn says staying in single market ‘open for discussion’ |
| (30 days later) | |
| Leader says Labour wants UK to be able to trade within single market, while spokesman insists party line is unchanged | Leader says Labour wants UK to be able to trade within single market, while spokesman insists party line is unchanged |
| Rowena Mason Deputy political editor | Rowena Mason Deputy political editor |
| Mon 11 Sep 2017 14.59 BST | Mon 11 Sep 2017 14.59 BST |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 15.33 GMT | |
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| Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour is open to the idea of staying in the single market, in an apparent softening of the party’s position on Brexit. | Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour is open to the idea of staying in the single market, in an apparent softening of the party’s position on Brexit. |
| The Labour leader said the issue was still up for discussion although he qualified his remarks by saying he believed it was only possible to stay in the single market if a country was a member of the EU. | The Labour leader said the issue was still up for discussion although he qualified his remarks by saying he believed it was only possible to stay in the single market if a country was a member of the EU. |
| Countries outside the EU but inside the single market include Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. | Countries outside the EU but inside the single market include Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. |
| Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Corbyn said Labour was flexible as long as the UK was still able to trade within the single market after Brexit. | Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Corbyn said Labour was flexible as long as the UK was still able to trade within the single market after Brexit. |
| “We want a relationship which allows us to trade within the single market,” he said. “Whether that’s formal membership – which is only possible, I believe, if you are actually a member of the EU – or whether it’s an agreed trading relationship, is open for discussion. The outcome is more important than the nomenclature on the way.” | “We want a relationship which allows us to trade within the single market,” he said. “Whether that’s formal membership – which is only possible, I believe, if you are actually a member of the EU – or whether it’s an agreed trading relationship, is open for discussion. The outcome is more important than the nomenclature on the way.” |
| Asked whether he could envisage the UK staying in the EU outright, Corbyn said his party was in a complicated position as most Labour voters backed remain, but a substantial minority voted to leave and the UK as a whole voted to leave, which he said must be respected. | Asked whether he could envisage the UK staying in the EU outright, Corbyn said his party was in a complicated position as most Labour voters backed remain, but a substantial minority voted to leave and the UK as a whole voted to leave, which he said must be respected. |
| A spokesman for Corbyn said after the interview that the party’s position had not changed. “We won’t be ‘members’ of the single market after the transition,” he said. “We want to achieve full tariff-free access to the single market. That could be achieved by a new relationship with the single market or a bespoke trade deal with the EU, which was what Jeremy was referring to.” | A spokesman for Corbyn said after the interview that the party’s position had not changed. “We won’t be ‘members’ of the single market after the transition,” he said. “We want to achieve full tariff-free access to the single market. That could be achieved by a new relationship with the single market or a bespoke trade deal with the EU, which was what Jeremy was referring to.” |
| Frances O’Grady, the TUC general secretary, opened the group’s congress on Monday by calling for continued membership of the EU single market, saying it was the best way to protect British workers after Brexit. The TUC, which represents about 50 trade union organisations, officially stated that it was in favour of remaining in the single market after a meeting on Thursday. | Frances O’Grady, the TUC general secretary, opened the group’s congress on Monday by calling for continued membership of the EU single market, saying it was the best way to protect British workers after Brexit. The TUC, which represents about 50 trade union organisations, officially stated that it was in favour of remaining in the single market after a meeting on Thursday. |
| Labour announced last month it favoured continued membership of the single market and customs union during a transitional period after the formal Brexit date of March 2019 but the party has not been as clear about what it wants after the interim arrangements. | Labour announced last month it favoured continued membership of the single market and customs union during a transitional period after the formal Brexit date of March 2019 but the party has not been as clear about what it wants after the interim arrangements. |
| Corbyn has previously said the party would leave the single market because such status is “dependent on membership of the EU” but would seek a trade deal that mirrored the free trade benefits. | Corbyn has previously said the party would leave the single market because such status is “dependent on membership of the EU” but would seek a trade deal that mirrored the free trade benefits. |
| In June, the Labour leader sacked three of his frontbenchers who voted against the party in favour of a Queen’s speech amendment calling for Britain to remain within the customs union and single market. | In June, the Labour leader sacked three of his frontbenchers who voted against the party in favour of a Queen’s speech amendment calling for Britain to remain within the customs union and single market. |
| Corbyn explained Labour’s position as he urged Labour MPs to vote against Theresa May’s EU withdrawal bill on Monday, telling rebels that the party still respects the result of the referendum. Caroline Flint and Frank Field are among those Labour MPs planning to vote with the government. | Corbyn explained Labour’s position as he urged Labour MPs to vote against Theresa May’s EU withdrawal bill on Monday, telling rebels that the party still respects the result of the referendum. Caroline Flint and Frank Field are among those Labour MPs planning to vote with the government. |
| Asked about Flint, a former Europe minister, he said: “She and I both voted to implement article 50 and that means respecting the result of the referendum. It doesn’t mean handing over all our powers of scrutiny in parliament, all our decision-making to one secretary of state away from parliamentary scrutiny. It is a power grab by the government.” | Asked about Flint, a former Europe minister, he said: “She and I both voted to implement article 50 and that means respecting the result of the referendum. It doesn’t mean handing over all our powers of scrutiny in parliament, all our decision-making to one secretary of state away from parliamentary scrutiny. It is a power grab by the government.” |
| Flint, who represents the strongly pro-leave Don Valley constituency in Yorkshire, said on Monday she believed it was an error to oppose the bill at second reading, rather than seek to amend it later. | Flint, who represents the strongly pro-leave Don Valley constituency in Yorkshire, said on Monday she believed it was an error to oppose the bill at second reading, rather than seek to amend it later. |
| “I believe Labour’s job is to improve this bill, not kill it as it begins its passage through parliament,” Flint told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | “I believe Labour’s job is to improve this bill, not kill it as it begins its passage through parliament,” Flint told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. |
| “I have to make a decision on this, and these decisions aren’t easy. I have never broken the whip at all but I do believe that in respecting the outcome of the referendum, in respecting what I said to my electors in a general election just a few months ago, it’s important that we get on with the job of making sure we can have as smooth an exit from the European Union as possible.” | “I have to make a decision on this, and these decisions aren’t easy. I have never broken the whip at all but I do believe that in respecting the outcome of the referendum, in respecting what I said to my electors in a general election just a few months ago, it’s important that we get on with the job of making sure we can have as smooth an exit from the European Union as possible.” |
| Labour | Labour |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| European Union | European Union |
| Europe | Europe |
| Jeremy Corbyn | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
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