‘I APPEAL to MPs of all parties, be prepared to put the people’s interests before the ideological fantasies, join us in supporting the option of a new UK customs union with the EU, which would give us a say in future trade deals,’ Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said yesterday, trying to justify his capitulation to the European Union.
‘Labour respects the result of the referendum,’ Corbyn insisted, ‘and Britain is leaving the EU, but we we will not support any Tory deal that will do lasting damage to jobs rights and living standards.’
Corbyn said: ‘During the transition period, which was proposed by Labour in the first place, Labour would seek to remain in a customs union with the EU and within the single market. That means that we will abide by the existing rules of both, during transition.
‘That is so that the government, business and workers only have to make one adjustment from the current situation to the final terms. ‘Labour spelled out the the need for a stable transition period last Summer. ‘Both the TUC and the CBI had agreed on that. ‘We thought the government had accepted that case, but they now seem to be, very surprisingly in disarray on this issue, yet again.’
He added: ‘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 as the Brexit Secretary David Davis promised in the House of Commons, with no new impediments to trade and no reductions in rights, standards and protections. ‘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 whatsoever for a hard border in Northern Ireland. ‘But we are also clear that the option of a new UK customs union with the EU would need to ensure that the UK has a say in future trade deals. ‘A new customs arrangement would depend on Britain being able to negotiate agreements in our national interest.
‘Labour would not countenance a deal which would leave Britain as some passive recipient of rules decided elsewhere by others, that would mean ending up a mere rule taker. ‘In contrast, a Conservative government has moved from saying it wanted trade with the EU after Brexit to be tariff free, to saying it wants it to be as tariff free as possible, quite a significant change.
‘In which sectors of the economy and industry does the government think it would be acceptable for there to be tariffs? They should let us know. Like with so much else, they haven’t spelt that out, twenty months after the referendum. ‘But that is the consequence of ruling out the option of a customs union, which the government has done.’
Labour MP Frank Field, when asked about Corbyn’s assurances that the UK would have input and wouldn’t be imposed upon by the EU, said he was delighted with Corbyn’s ‘marvellous’ position on having a customs union where the EU and UK negotiate trade deals together on an equal footing: because ‘Jeremy knows they won’t ever let us have an agreement like that … it’s vintage Blair spin.’