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| Jeremy Corbyn backs permanent customs union after Brexit | Jeremy Corbyn backs permanent customs union after Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has backed the UK being in a permanent customs union with the EU in a speech setting out his approach to Brexit. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has backed the UK being in a permanent customs union with the EU in a speech setting out his approach to Brexit. |
| He said this would avoid the need for a "hard border" in Northern Ireland and ensure free-flowing trade for business. | He said this would avoid the need for a "hard border" in Northern Ireland and ensure free-flowing trade for business. |
| The policy shift could lead to Labour siding with Tory rebels to defeat Theresa May on her Brexit strategy. | The policy shift could lead to Labour siding with Tory rebels to defeat Theresa May on her Brexit strategy. |
| The Tories said it was "a cynical attempt" to frustrate Brexit "and play politics with our country's future". | The Tories said it was "a cynical attempt" to frustrate Brexit "and play politics with our country's future". |
| The prime minister has insisted the UK will leave both the single market and the customs union, allowing it to negotiate its own post-Brexit trade deals. | The prime minister has insisted the UK will leave both the single market and the customs union, allowing it to negotiate its own post-Brexit trade deals. |
| Mrs May will give details in a speech on Friday of how her plan for a "managed diversion" from the EU will work in practice, after first briefing the cabinet. | |
| Mr Corbyn said Labour backed customs union membership during a planned two-year transition period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. | Mr Corbyn said Labour backed customs union membership during a planned two-year transition period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. |
| But in a shift from the party's policy at last year's general election, he said the UK should strike a new customs deal with the EU at the end of transition. | But in a shift from the party's policy at last year's general election, he said the UK should strike a new customs deal with the EU at the end of transition. |
| "Labour would seek a final deal that gives full access to European markets and maintains the benefits of the single market and the customs union... with no new impediments to trade and no reduction in rights, standards and protections," he said. | "Labour would seek a final deal that gives full access to European markets and maintains the benefits of the single market and the customs union... with no new impediments to trade and no reduction in rights, standards and protections," he said. |
| "We have long argued that a customs union is a viable option for the final deal. So Labour would seek to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure that there are no tariffs with Europe and to help avoid any need for a hard border in Northern Ireland." | "We have long argued that a customs union is a viable option for the final deal. So Labour would seek to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure that there are no tariffs with Europe and to help avoid any need for a hard border in Northern Ireland." |
| He added: "Labour respects the result of the referendum and Britain is leaving the EU. But we will not support any Tory deal that would do lasting damage to jobs, rights and living standards." | He added: "Labour respects the result of the referendum and Britain is leaving the EU. But we will not support any Tory deal that would do lasting damage to jobs, rights and living standards." |
| A customs union allows free-flowing trade between member nations without making companies pay export taxes, or tariffs, at the border. However the members normally have joint trade agreements with countries not in their customs union. | A customs union allows free-flowing trade between member nations without making companies pay export taxes, or tariffs, at the border. However the members normally have joint trade agreements with countries not in their customs union. |
| A single market is a deeper form of co-operation, which effectively merges the economies of member states together, allowing the free movement of goods, services, money and people as if they were part of a single country. | A single market is a deeper form of co-operation, which effectively merges the economies of member states together, allowing the free movement of goods, services, money and people as if they were part of a single country. |
| In his speech, at Coventry University, Mr Corbyn accused the Conservatives of having "no economic plan and no plan for Brexit" and said that under Labour there would be no "scapegoating of migrants, no setting one generation against another and no playing off the nations of the UK". | In his speech, at Coventry University, Mr Corbyn accused the Conservatives of having "no economic plan and no plan for Brexit" and said that under Labour there would be no "scapegoating of migrants, no setting one generation against another and no playing off the nations of the UK". |
| He said Labour would be "looking for a Brexit that puts the working people first". | He said Labour would be "looking for a Brexit that puts the working people first". |
| Labour says the UK could work "jointly" with the EU after Brexit to strike trade deals with other nations - something the government insists is not possible. | |
| Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out continuing with free movement of people between the UK and the EU in some form after Brexit, under Labour's plans, but he told BBC News it would have to be negotiated - as would any financial contribution the UK would make. | |
| The Conservatives accused Mr Corbyn of "betraying millions of Labour voters" who had backed Brexit. | The Conservatives accused Mr Corbyn of "betraying millions of Labour voters" who had backed Brexit. |
| International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: "Labour's confused policy would be bad for jobs and wages, it would leave us unable to sign up to comprehensive free trade deals, and it doesn't respect the result of the referendum. | International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: "Labour's confused policy would be bad for jobs and wages, it would leave us unable to sign up to comprehensive free trade deals, and it doesn't respect the result of the referendum. |
| "This is another broken promise by Labour. Only the Conservatives are getting on with delivering what British people voted for, taking back control of our laws, borders and money." | "This is another broken promise by Labour. Only the Conservatives are getting on with delivering what British people voted for, taking back control of our laws, borders and money." |
| Labour could cause huge problems for the government | Labour could cause huge problems for the government |
| By Ben Wright, BBC political correspondent | By Ben Wright, BBC political correspondent |
| Brexit is not just a negotiation between the EU and the UK. | Brexit is not just a negotiation between the EU and the UK. |
| The British parliament has a huge role in this, more so now that the government doesn't have its own majority. | The British parliament has a huge role in this, more so now that the government doesn't have its own majority. |
| Why this is now so significant is there are clearly a number of Tory MPs who agree with Labour that there should be a customs union after Brexit. | Why this is now so significant is there are clearly a number of Tory MPs who agree with Labour that there should be a customs union after Brexit. |
| If - and it is still a big if, but a more likely one - Labour pass an amendment calling for the creation of a customs union, then it does cause huge problems for the government. | If - and it is still a big if, but a more likely one - Labour pass an amendment calling for the creation of a customs union, then it does cause huge problems for the government. |
| It would force the government to change its position. | It would force the government to change its position. |
| That is why this is a really significant move by Labour. | That is why this is a really significant move by Labour. |
| Labour MP Frank Field, who backed Leave and said Mr Corbyn was once more Eurosceptic than him, told the BBC that being in a customs union or the single market would be a "deceit" and dismissed suggestions Tory rebels could join with Labour to defeat the government as "fairy tales". | Labour MP Frank Field, who backed Leave and said Mr Corbyn was once more Eurosceptic than him, told the BBC that being in a customs union or the single market would be a "deceit" and dismissed suggestions Tory rebels could join with Labour to defeat the government as "fairy tales". |
| Mr Corbyn addressed his previous scepticism about the EU in his speech, saying: "I have long opposed the embedding of free market orthodoxy and the democratic deficit in the European Union, and that is why I campaigned to 'remain and reform' in the referendum campaign." | Mr Corbyn addressed his previous scepticism about the EU in his speech, saying: "I have long opposed the embedding of free market orthodoxy and the democratic deficit in the European Union, and that is why I campaigned to 'remain and reform' in the referendum campaign." |
| He said scepticism was "healthy" but "often the term 'Eurosceptic' in reality became synonymous with 'anti-European' and I am not anti-European at all, I want to see close and progressive cooperation with the whole of Europe after Brexit". | He said scepticism was "healthy" but "often the term 'Eurosceptic' in reality became synonymous with 'anti-European' and I am not anti-European at all, I want to see close and progressive cooperation with the whole of Europe after Brexit". |
| Mr Corbyn is facing calls from senior pro-European figures in his party, including Lord Mandelson and former leader Lord Kinnock, to commit to remaining in the EU single market, as well as the customs union. | Mr Corbyn is facing calls from senior pro-European figures in his party, including Lord Mandelson and former leader Lord Kinnock, to commit to remaining in the EU single market, as well as the customs union. |
| Mr Corbyn rejected staying in the single market, but argued for a "close relationship" with it. | Mr Corbyn rejected staying in the single market, but argued for a "close relationship" with it. |
| "Britain will need a bespoke relationship of its own. Labour would negotiate a new and strong relationship with the single market that includes full tariff-free access and a floor under existing rights, standards and protections," he said. | "Britain will need a bespoke relationship of its own. Labour would negotiate a new and strong relationship with the single market that includes full tariff-free access and a floor under existing rights, standards and protections," he said. |
| He said this "new relationship" would ensure Labour could deliver on its plans to nationalise public utilities, invest in industry and curb the outsourcing of public services. | |
| He said EU competition rules would, for example, not allow Labour to nationalise the Royal Mail, water and the railways and he would seek exemptions from them and rules restricting state aid of industry. | |
| Labour's shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner was asked earlier, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, if Labour's policy shift could allow it to side with Tory rebels and bring down the government: "I don't know what it would lead to. I don't think anybody does." | Labour's shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner was asked earlier, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, if Labour's policy shift could allow it to side with Tory rebels and bring down the government: "I don't know what it would lead to. I don't think anybody does." |