JEREMY Corbyn is facing new calls to stop being a “cheerleader” for a hard Tory Brexit and back cross party
moves to keep the UK in the European single market.
The appeal was made by Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s foreign affairs and Europe spokesman, and follows comments made by the UK Labour leader in which he ruled out support for a Norway-style arrangement with Europe as he suggested the UK doesn’t have enough oil.
Despite a report Corbyn may be ready to review his Brexit position amid concerns he is failing to exploit Conservative turmoil over the issue, there appeared to be no change in his stance against a soft Brexit when was interviewed yesterday.
Norway is part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which operates outside the European Union, but is a full member of the single market, complying with the free movement of goods, capital, services, and labour.
On the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Corbyn rejected Norway’s model. He said: “Norway accepts all the rules of the single market, doesn’t have any ability to influence them whatsoever, and is a rather different economy to ours, because it’s heavily dependent on mainly oil. We’re not.”
It emerged yesterday the UK Labour leader has called members of his shadow cabinet to an “away day” early next month to re-examine the party’s policy and strategy on Brexit as he responds to growing unrest among his single-market supporting MPs.
Last night Gethins said Corbyn’s comments on Norway marked the next chapter in his party’s “utterly disingenuous approach” to Brexit.
“Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party have gone from ‘you have to be in the EU to be in the single market, to the UK can’t be in the single market like Norway because they have lots of oil’.
“The ever-changing position would be laughable, if this wasn’t the same party that is meant to hold the UK government to account over its equally chaotic Brexit plans.”
He added: “Labour’s shambolic position on Brexit has shown that when it comes to standing up for the economy, jobs and livelihoods – Labour are nowhere to be seen. Instead, they have moved from being the Official Opposition to the Official Cheerleaders for a Tory hard Brexit – championing our exit from the single market and the customs union.”
Earlier this month an analysis by the Scottish Government forecast the Scottish economy would contract by £12.7 billion a year under a hard Brexit, a loss equivalent to £2300 per year for each person.
During the Marr interview Corbyn said Labour “could work with EFTA countries on that relationship”, adding: “The principle has to be the trade relationship, and that’s what we’re focused on, and whatever we need to negotiate, we will.”
He called for a “commensurate” regulatory environment with Europe, as well as potentially remaining in a form of customs union and appeared to back “easy movement” of people post Brexit, providing efforts were made to tackle the undercutting of pay and conditions.
Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said: “Labour’s leadership is moving closer and closer to the Conservatives’ hard Brexit.”
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