Jeremy Corbyn backs staying in a customs union as he promises Brexit just isn’t any longer going to ‘spell doom’ for Britain

Jeremy Corbyn talking in Coventry
Reuters

• Jeremy Corbyn insists that Brexit will most likely be « what we gather
  of it together ».
• The Labour leader dismisses fears that leaving the
  European Union will automatically be a « catastrophe ».
• He backs staying in a customs union nonetheless refuses to
  commit to staying in the one market, announcing it may pause
  him from tackling immigration or nationalising
  industries.
• Alternatively he promises that Labour would look for a « fresh and
  solid relationship with the one market ».

LONDON — Jeremy Corbyn on the present time called for Britain to make a brand fresh
« comprehensive UK-EU customs union » after Brexit, as he region
out his occasion’s fresh policy on leaving the European
Union. 

The Labour leader mentioned that it was wanted for Britain to
sustain finish ties to Europe in oreder to pause a sharp border
between Ireland and the UK.

« We now private long argued that a customs union is a viable likelihood for
the closing deal. So Labour would look for to barter a brand fresh
comprehensive UK-EU customs union to assemble obvious there are likely to be no
tariffs with Europe and to wait on avoid any need for a sharp border
in Northern Ireland, »he mentioned.

Alternatively he insisted that any fresh customs union would « must always
be obvious the UK has a whine in future replace deals » performed between
the EU and diverse worldwide locations and must always no longer whisk away Britain as mere
« rule-takers » from Europe.

Talking in Coventry on Monday morning, Corbyn also pushed aside
calls from those in his occasion anxious that he commit to staying
in the one market after Brexit, announcing it may pause him
tackling immigration and nationalising industries.

« We are likely to be not held motivate, interior or exterior the EU, from taking
the steps we private got to toughen modern industries and native
replace, pause the tide of privatisation and outsourcing or
pause employers being ready to import low designate agency labour from
in another country to undercut unusual pay and stipulations. »

Alternatively, he insisted that Labour don’t private a « red line » on
cutting again phases of immigration.

« We would no longer construct what this authorities is doing, delivery from rigid
red traces on immigration after which work out what meaning for
the economic system afterwards, » he mentioned.

« As Diane Abbott, our Shadow Dwelling Secretary, region out closing week,
‘We construct no longer delivery with, ‘how construct we nick immigration?’, and to
hell with the penalties. These are Tory policies and Tory
values’. »

The Labour leader mentioned that a British authorities beneath his
management would negotiate a « bespoke » deal that may allow him
to fulfill his promises to nationalise obvious industries and
public utilities.

« That fresh relationship would can also peaceable be obvious we are able to bring our
ambitious economic programme, choose the classic steps to upgrade
and remodel our economic system, and gather an economic system for the Twenty first
century that works for the many, no longer the few.

« So we would also look for to barter protections, clarifications
or exemptions, the keep wanted, with regards to privatisation and
public service competition directives, explain motivate and procurement
guidelines and the posted workers directive. »

He also mentioned other folks who insisted that Brexit would « inevitably
spell doom » for Britain or that it may make a « land of milk
and honey » had been both extensive of the mark.

« There’ll most likely be some who will characterize you that Brexit is a catastrophe
for this country and a few who will characterize you that Brexit will
make a land of milk and honey, » he mentioned.

« The true fact is more down to earth and it’s in our palms: Brexit is
what we gather of it together, »

Dismissing hardliners on either aspect of the Brexit argument, he
added: « The European Union just isn’t any longer the foundation of all our concerns
and leaving it’s no longer going to resolve all our concerns. Likewise, the EU
just isn’t any longer the provision of all enlightenment and leaving it doesn’t
inevitably spell doom for our country. »

A brand fresh single market relationship

Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell
Getty

Corbyn’s speech comes sooner than the high minister’s have faith speech on
the self-discipline as a result of choose arena on Friday.

In an try and differentiate his have faith occasion’s arena from the
Conservative authorities, which remains committed to cutting all
ties with the EU customs union and single market, Corbyn insisted
that Labour would now motivate a « fresh and solid relationship with
the one market » whereby Britain would continue to notice EU
replace guidelines.

« Every country that’s geographically finish to the EU without
being an EU member explain, whether it’s Turkey, Switzerland, or
Norway, has some form of finish relationship to the EU, some more
favorable than others, » he mentioned.

« Britain will need a bespoke relationship of its have faith. Labour
would negotiate a brand fresh and solid relationship with the one
market that contains rotund tariff-free secure admission to and a flooring beneath
unusual rights, standards and protections. »

Corbyn’s speech follows a series of interventions from senior
Labour figures all the diagram by which they suggested that Labour would motivate
Britain forming a brand fresh customs union with the EU.

Shadow International Secretary Emily Thornberry suggested LBC closing week that
the occasion wanted a brand fresh customs relationship with the EU that was
« pretty grand the identical » as the veteran one, whereas the Shadow Brexit
secretary Keir Starmer hinted on Sunday that Labour would motivate a
riot Conservative amendment designed to preserve Britain in a
customs union after Brexit.

Corbyn’s speech sparked a backlash in the Brexit-supporting press
on Monday with the Every day Mail splashing on a front page accusing
the Labour leaderof a « Brexit betrayal » and the Sun mocking up a
image of Corbyn as a rat.

Several papers also highlighted criticism of the speech in
blueprint from the dozen or so prominent Brexit-supporting MPs in
the Labour parliamentary occasion.

Labour MP Frank Field mentioned his occasion’s Brexit arena would
region off them to lose « swathes of seats in the north to the Tories ».