NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Labour of a “complete abdication of responsibility” over plans to abstain on a Lords amendment keeping the UK in the single market post-Brexit.
Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench has tabled changes to the EU Withdrawal Bill which would call on Theresa May’s Government to make maintaining “full access” to the EU internal market an objective of Brexit negotiations.
It falls short of calling for full single market membership and indicates that Labour will not support a House of Lords proposal for the UK to stay in the single market through the European Economic Area (EEA), in a Norway-style deal.
Responding on Twitter, the First Minister said for Labour to abstain on the EEA amendment would be “a complete abdication of responsibility” and “an abject failure to do the right thing”.
The UK Government faces crunch votes on its Brexit Bill in the Commons next week.
Potential splits among Labour’s MPs caused by the move reduce the chances of a defeat for the Prime Minister.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “We are confident we can build a new relationship with the EU. We want the UK to have a better deal than the Norway model.”
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: “Labour will only accept a Brexit deal that delivers the benefits of the single market and protects jobs and living standards.
“Unlike the Tories, Labour will not sacrifice jobs and the economy in the pursuit of a reckless and extreme interpretation of the referendum result.
“Existing single market agreements that the EU has negotiated with third countries, including Norway, are bespoke deals negotiated with the EU to serve the best interests of those countries.
“We need to learn from them and negotiate our own more ambitious agreement, which serves our economic interests and which prevents a hard border in Northern Ireland.
“Two years on from the referendum it is clear that the Government has no plan for how it will protect jobs and the economy, and guarantee no hard border in Northern Ireland.
“Labour’s amendment, along with a commitment to negotiate a new comprehensive customs union with the EU, is a strong and balanced package that would retain the benefits of the single market. Parliament should have the opportunity to debate and vote on it.”
May will seek to overturn the changes to her Brexit legislation introduced in the Lords in a Commons showdown next week.
Without an overall majority, the PM is expected to spend the coming days trying to sweet-talk and strong-arm potential rebels who could inflict defeat on some of the Government’s key Brexit positions.
May’s decision to squeeze Commons consideration of the 15 Lords amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill into a single 12-hour day on June 12 provoked an angry reaction on the opposition benches.
Labour industry spokeswoman Chi Onwurah branded it “astounding”, accusing the Government of “showing its contempt for democracy, our future economy and parliamentary sovereignty”, while the SNP’s Drew Hendry said the timetable was driven by “Tory self-interest”.
Among the changes backed by peers are a requirement to negotiate a future customs union arrangement and a “meaningful role” for Parliament after the exit talks are complete.
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