LABOUR must address the contradictions and confusion among its ranks regarding EU issues if the UK is to achieve the best possible deal, according to an SNP MP.
Stephen Gethins has pointed to recent media appearances from Labour politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn abandoning his party’s support for membership of the single market on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show towards the end of last month, when he incorrectly claimed that membership of the single market was dependent on membership of the EU.
Corbyn’s comments were soon criticised by key frontbench allies. Just a few days later, his own shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, contradicted the claim by stating that Labour “are not ruling anything out,” over membership of the single market.
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The next day, Labour frontbenchers Diane Abbott and Keir Starmer also both contradicted their leader. Abbott said that Labour “are not at this stage taking any options off the table”, while Starmer added that it is “vital that we retain the benefits of the single market and the customs union”.
Furthermore, Labour’s shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner has said that seeking a future agreement with the EU over the customs union would be a “disaster”.
Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray subsequently criticised Gardiner, saying that his comments were “quite simply not true”.
Such contradictions, according to Gethins, risks allowing the Tories to push through their hard Brexit plans in the absence of a strong, official opposition.
“In recent weeks we have seen confusion and contradictions at the heart of Labour when we need a unified Labour Party, who – as the official opposition – can hold this UK Government to account and, along with the SNP, work to get the best deal possible during Brexit negotiations,” he said.
“Labour’s continued contradictions over the UK’s membership of the single market and customs union – which is key to the UK’s economy, growth and job opportunities – risks letting the Tories push through their Brexit plans that will impact us all.
“It is vital that the Scottish Government, alongside other devolved administrations, are guaranteed a seat at the negotiating table in order to protect our economic interests, jobs and small and large businesses, and not simply be left to the recklessness of a Tory government intent on a pursuing an ideological cliff-edge Brexit.”
However, both Corbyn and Kezia Dugdale remain committed to a “jobs-first Brexit”, according to a spokesperson for Scottish Labour in response to Gethin, adding: “As Kez has repeatedly said, we support tariff-free access to the single market for the UK. Jobs, the economy and retaining the benefits of the single market and the customs union are our priority.
“Labour will always put jobs and the economy first, and it’s deeply disappointing that the SNP would rather pick a fight with Labour than join us in challenging the Tories.
“That tells you everything you need to know about the SNP. The SNP’s support for independence means it has absolutely no interest in a Brexit deal that works for the entire UK, and Labour is the only party committed to a Brexit deal that will deliver for the many, not the few.”
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