LABOUR splits over Brexit, the single market and the customs union have left opponents and supporters scratching their heads over exactly what the party’s position is.

On Sunday, UK leader Jeremy Corbyn said the UK must leave the single market as it is “inextricably” linked with EU membership.

But yesterday, Labour’s Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said there was no need to leave the single market on leaving the European Union and access could be maintained through a Norway-style model.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If we were not in the single market, we would be having a debate about how to access it, not how to leave it. There is no need to leave the single market, even as we leave the EU.”

Later in the afternoon, Barry Gardiner, Labour’s shadow international trade secretary said it would be wrong for the UK to remain in the single market.

Last month, 49 Labour MPs backed an amendment in favour of the single market and have called for the UK to look at the Norway model of being out of the EU but in the European Economic Area (EEA). Gardiner dismissed the proposal, saying: “To adopt the Norwegian situation is to become a vassal state because you end up paying money into the EU budget but you have less control over the regulations than you do now with a seat round the table.”

Gardiner said the only realistic option open to the UK was hard Brexit or a Turkey-style customs agreement that would ultimately leave Britain in a weak position.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer reportedly disagrees. He is said to believe Britain could nego-tiate a better deal, and has previously insisted the customs union must remain on the table.

The SNP called on Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale to confirm what the party north of the Border believes, after Jones’s apparent contradiction of Corbyn’s comments.

Before the formal process of leaving the EU was triggered, Dugdale wrote to Theresa May with a list of requirements including retaining access to the single market, which consists of all EU countries as well as non-EU countries Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as freedom of movement.

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said Labour was clearly “deeply divided” over Europe.

She said: “Many people within the Labour Party will no doubt be embarrassed that their leader has made such deeply irresponsible remarks on immigration – and they will be perplexed that he seems unaware of the distinction between single-market membership and EU membership.

“It is not only entirely possible for the UK to remain a member of the single market even after Brexit, it is absolutely essential to do so to protect thousands of jobs and our living standards. Kezia Dugdale used to say that Scottish Labour were ‘absolutely committed’ to retaining our single-market membership.

“It’s time for her to explain whether she backs Carwyn Jones – or whether she’ll follow Jeremy Corbyn’s lead and dance to Ukip’s tune.”

A Scottish Labour spokesman said it was “disappointing” that the SNP, a third of whose supporters had backed Brexit, were more interested in picking a fight with Labour than holding the Tories to account.

“Kezia Dugdale and Jeremy Corbyn have been clear that Labour supports a jobs-first Brexit.

“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.”

The problem for Labour is that a poll of members found overwhelming support for retaining membership of the single market.

The Party Members Project poll also showed backing for a second EU referendum.