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Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn urges caution on single market Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn urges caution on single market
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has promised to listen to Labour members' calls to keep the UK in the EU single market - but warned it could hamper the government's ability to protect jobs and invest in industry.Jeremy Corbyn has promised to listen to Labour members' calls to keep the UK in the EU single market - but warned it could hamper the government's ability to protect jobs and invest in industry.
The Labour leader said EU restrictions on state aid and pressure to privatise sectors like rail could cause problems.The Labour leader said EU restrictions on state aid and pressure to privatise sectors like rail could cause problems.
He also predicted "a lot of people" would continue to come from the EU to work in the UK after Brexit.He also predicted "a lot of people" would continue to come from the EU to work in the UK after Brexit.
Mr Corbyn was speaking on day one of the Labour conference in Brighton.Mr Corbyn was speaking on day one of the Labour conference in Brighton.
More than 40 senior Labour figures, including 30 MPs, have signed an open letter, published in the Observer, urging Mr Corbyn to commit to remaining in the European single market and customs union after the UK leaves the EU. Boosted by Labour's better-than-forecast general election result in June, he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show he wanted 10 years in office to implement Labour's agenda, saying at least two electoral terms would be needed to address challenges on housebuilding and inequality.
Labour's policy on Brexit is coming under scrutiny in Brighton, with more than 40 senior party figures signing an open letter to the Observer urging Mr Corbyn to commit to remaining in the European single market and customs union after Brexit.
Labour has already said it would keep the UK in both agreements during a transitional period.Labour has already said it would keep the UK in both agreements during a transitional period.
Theresa May has suggested that period could last about two years, but speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn said it should last "as long as necessary". Theresa May has suggested a two-year timeframe for a transition period, but Mr Corbyn said Labour's version would last "as long as necessary".
It is "impossible" to say at this stage how long it would be, he argued.It is "impossible" to say at this stage how long it would be, he argued.
'Clean break''Clean break'
Asked about his plans beyond this period, Mr Corbyn said the "important priority" was seeking tariff-free trade access to the EU's markets, and that it was necessary to "look very carefully" at the terms of any trade deal to avoid restrictions on state aid, citing the UK's steel industry as an example.Asked about his plans beyond this period, Mr Corbyn said the "important priority" was seeking tariff-free trade access to the EU's markets, and that it was necessary to "look very carefully" at the terms of any trade deal to avoid restrictions on state aid, citing the UK's steel industry as an example.
"We need to be quite careful about the powers that we need as national governments," he said."We need to be quite careful about the powers that we need as national governments," he said.
The customs union is the EU's tariff-free trading area, which imposes the same taxes on imports from certain countries outside the union.The customs union is the EU's tariff-free trading area, which imposes the same taxes on imports from certain countries outside the union.
The single market also includes the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.The single market also includes the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.
The letter urging commitment to the single market was signed by both Blairite and left-wing MPs, along with some prominent trade union leaders.The letter urging commitment to the single market was signed by both Blairite and left-wing MPs, along with some prominent trade union leaders.
"The supposed benefits of a clean break with the EU are a fantasy," it said."The supposed benefits of a clean break with the EU are a fantasy," it said.
"The economic impact of leaving the single market would hit the most vulnerable in our society hardest. "The economic impact of leaving the single market would hit the most vulnerable in our society hardest."
"Labour should commit to staying in the single market and customs union - ruling out no options for how to achieve this." On the issue of free movement - which the government and Labour both say will end with the UK's EU membership - Mr Corbyn said he understood "the importance of workers moving from one place to the other", but some employers had "grotesquely exploited" the system to pay EU workers very low wages.
On the issue of free movement, Mr Corbyn said he understood "the importance of workers moving from one place to the other", but some employers had "grotesquely exploited" the system to pay EU workers very low wages.
"That has to stop. But we have to recognise that in the future we're going to need people to work in Europe, and people from Europe are going to need to work here. There's going to be a lot of movement.""That has to stop. But we have to recognise that in the future we're going to need people to work in Europe, and people from Europe are going to need to work here. There's going to be a lot of movement."
'New strength' Illegal strike action
Although Labour did not win the general election, Mr Corbyn will tell delegates to the party's biggest ever conference that they have set the political agenda after making gains in it. In his Marr interview, Mr Corbyn also promised an end to the public sector pay cap.
He will unveil, or reiterate, policies that will have wide approval across his party, from recruiting more police officers to lifting the public sector pay cap and alleviating student debt. He would not commit to the 5% increase called for by some, but promised workers a rise in line with inflation - currently 2.9% - in addition to recognition of the "sacrifice" they had made in recent years.
"We have changed the political centre of gravity. We are now the political mainstream and have the chance to transform our country," he wrote in the Observer. The Labour leader side-stepped questions about whether he would support illegal strike action by public sector workers against the cap, as backed by his ally, Unite leader Len McCluskey.
"To do that we must use our new strength inside and outside Parliament to challenge the Conservatives at every step - and prepare to form a government to change Britain when the next election is called." A new law requires a 50% turnout for successful strike ballots, but Unite is calling for co-ordinated action across sectors regardless of the threshold reached.
Repeatedly pressed on whether he would back unions defying the law, Mr Corbyn said: "I will be with those workers demanding a decent pay rise."
But speaking on Sky News, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said the party would not back unions in such circumstances.
"I have actually received a letter from Len McCluskey this week where he says he accepts Labour MPs aren't going to support calls for illegal strike action," he said.
Mr McCluskey confirmed that was the case, saying he did not expect support from the party's leadership or any of its MPs.
"I know that they are opposed to the current law and they will do all that they can inside Parliament to change this law," he told ITV's Peston on Sunday.