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| Jeremy Corbyn tells Theresa May and EU leaders to stop posturing | Jeremy Corbyn tells Theresa May and EU leaders to stop posturing |
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| Jeremy Corbyn has called on both Theresa May and EU leaders to stop posturing and take steps together to build a new relationship during a speech in Brussels. | Jeremy Corbyn has called on both Theresa May and EU leaders to stop posturing and take steps together to build a new relationship during a speech in Brussels. |
| The Labour leader, while scornful of recent comments by Phillip Hammond, in which the chancellor described the EU as “the enemy”, offered a surprisingly even-handed analysis of the impasse in the Brexit talks. | The Labour leader, while scornful of recent comments by Phillip Hammond, in which the chancellor described the EU as “the enemy”, offered a surprisingly even-handed analysis of the impasse in the Brexit talks. |
| Speaking at a conference on the future of socialism, Corbyn said both sides needed to take steps to progress the negotiations, which are stuck on the details of the estimated €60bn (£54bn) divorce bill. | Speaking at a conference on the future of socialism, Corbyn said both sides needed to take steps to progress the negotiations, which are stuck on the details of the estimated €60bn (£54bn) divorce bill. |
| “The issue of Brexit is obviously a huge one in Britain,” he said. “Let me be clear the British Labour party does not see anyone in Europe as an enemy. We see people across Europe as friends. You are our colleagues, our partners, our comrades and our friends.” | “The issue of Brexit is obviously a huge one in Britain,” he said. “Let me be clear the British Labour party does not see anyone in Europe as an enemy. We see people across Europe as friends. You are our colleagues, our partners, our comrades and our friends.” |
| Corbyn added: “Our commitment is clear. We must and will respect the result of the EU referendum but at the same time build a new close and cooperative relationship with our fellow Europeans based on our common interests. We are internationalists. | Corbyn added: “Our commitment is clear. We must and will respect the result of the EU referendum but at the same time build a new close and cooperative relationship with our fellow Europeans based on our common interests. We are internationalists. |
| “So I urge all leaders on all sides: the UK and the EU. The UK and the European Union must take steps together. There is no need for insults or divisive posturing. It is our responsibility to build a relationship that will continue to thrive for generations to come and we in the Labour party are determined to achieve that.” | |
| During the event, organised by Gianni Pittella, the Italian leader of the socialist group in the European parliament, Corbyn also urged the EU to take steps to reform its ways, in an indication of the Labour leader’s at times ambivalent attitude to the bloc. | During the event, organised by Gianni Pittella, the Italian leader of the socialist group in the European parliament, Corbyn also urged the EU to take steps to reform its ways, in an indication of the Labour leader’s at times ambivalent attitude to the bloc. |
| “In the referendum the Labour party campaigned for remain and reform,” he said. “That call for reform of EU institutions and rules in the interests of the many is echoed by many friends and allies across Europe. We will resist any attempt by British Conservatives to use Brexit to try and create any kind of deregulated tax haven off the shores of Europe. A deal that works for all of us. For Britain and the whole of Europe. | “In the referendum the Labour party campaigned for remain and reform,” he said. “That call for reform of EU institutions and rules in the interests of the many is echoed by many friends and allies across Europe. We will resist any attempt by British Conservatives to use Brexit to try and create any kind of deregulated tax haven off the shores of Europe. A deal that works for all of us. For Britain and the whole of Europe. |
| “We will continue to work with you and others across the European Union – and of course Europe is bigger than just the European Union – on climate change, challenging the grip of corporate power and many other issues inside or outside the EU.” | |
| Earlier in the day, Corbyn had responded to suggestions from a former Tory cabinet minister, Owen Patterson, that the lack of a deal with the EU was inevitable by describing such a scenario as “disastrous”. | |
| “The prime minister seems to have managed to upset just about everybody and have a warring cabinet around her,” Corbyn said. | “The prime minister seems to have managed to upset just about everybody and have a warring cabinet around her,” Corbyn said. |
| “It is up to her to get the negotiations back on track. We cannot countenance the idea that we just rush headlong into no deal with Europe. No deal with Europe would be very dangerous for employment and jobs in Britain. | “It is up to her to get the negotiations back on track. We cannot countenance the idea that we just rush headlong into no deal with Europe. No deal with Europe would be very dangerous for employment and jobs in Britain. |
| “The idea of no deal would mean that World Trade Organization rules would be implemented straight away in March 2019. | “The idea of no deal would mean that World Trade Organization rules would be implemented straight away in March 2019. |
| “It would be catastrophic for manufacturing industry jobs and we would have real problems all through the economy. I don’t want to see that. I want to see an agreement being reached. | “It would be catastrophic for manufacturing industry jobs and we would have real problems all through the economy. I don’t want to see that. I want to see an agreement being reached. |
| “We have to realise the seriousness of the situation and the chaos in which our government is operating at the present time. It is a chaos of their own making.” | “We have to realise the seriousness of the situation and the chaos in which our government is operating at the present time. It is a chaos of their own making.” |
| Corbyn is meeting the prime ministers of Italy, Portugal and Sweden, along with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, during his one-day visit to Brussels. Before those meetings, he told the Together conference that the neoliberal system of the past was broken and that the left needed to offer a radical alternative vision. | Corbyn is meeting the prime ministers of Italy, Portugal and Sweden, along with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, during his one-day visit to Brussels. Before those meetings, he told the Together conference that the neoliberal system of the past was broken and that the left needed to offer a radical alternative vision. |
| “Many establishment commentators have been determined to write the left off. To write socialism out of the agenda. In Britain we were told we had no chance. No chance we were told just before the recent general election. And although we did not quite win the election I think you would agree we comprehensively proved our critics wrong. We delivered the largest increase of the Labour vote since 1945, increasing our vote by 3 million.” | |
| He added: “Our broken system has provided fertile ground for nationalistic and xenophobic politics … Unless we offer a clear and radical alternative and credible solutions to the problems people face. | He added: “Our broken system has provided fertile ground for nationalistic and xenophobic politics … Unless we offer a clear and radical alternative and credible solutions to the problems people face. |
| “Unless we offer a chance to change the broken system, unless we offer hope of a more equitable and prosperous future, we are clearing the path for the the far right to make inroads to our communities. | |
| “The neoliberal economic model is broken. It doesn’t work for most people. Inequality and low taxes for the richest are hurting our people and the economy as even the IMF acknowledges. Our thinking must become the new consensus.” |