Labour have finally challenged the Tories on Brexit, but they must stay in the Single Market indefinitely.

Ted James
Ted James
Aug 27, 2017 · 4 min read
‘Guardian’

With Corbyn looking like now he will back a ‘Soft Brexit’, is this a victory for the Pro-EU wing of the Labour Party.

New’s coming from inside the Labour Party suggests that there may be a change in Labour’s Brexit policy. This revelation was released in the Observer by Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer. He has said this has been done to distance themselves from the Tories and offer a real alternative to the Tories ‘Hard Brexit’. They are promising to maybe now stay in the Single Market, Customs Union and will retain the Free Movement of People. This would mean they would extend the so called ‘Transitional Period’ to as long as 4 years.

I have written how I feel that Corbyn should move to a softer Brexit, you can read that here. I have also written about why as a Remainer I supported him in the 2017 General Election, you can read that here.

There could be many different reasons for this change in approach to Brexit by Labour.

  1. Corbyn and Labour want to draw a dividing line with the Tories over Brexit — This is what Keir Starmer has said and would make sense. Corbyn has always run his campaign’s of being the man to offer an alternative and a ‘new kind of politics’. Often Labour have been critised for not having a definitive stance on Brexit, and now it seems they have one. It means they can say there different to the Tories and by staying in the Single Market and Customs Union it backs up there aim of a ‘jobs first Brexit’.
  2. Could Corbyn fear another uprising by MP’s from within his own party — Another reason for this sudden change could be that Corbyn fears another coup from within the PLP. This would be devastating right now as Corbyn has so much momentum from the Election and a coup would halt it abruptly in its tracks. This shows he may have had to bow down to the wishes of the Pro-EU wing of the party.
  3. The Labour party may beable to attract moderate conservatives, as well as winning back UKIP voters- I have written before here about how If Corbyn soften his stance on Labour they would beable to maybe lure moderate Conservatives who never wanted a Brexit. At the same time bringing back UKIP voter’s who defected from Labour by still promising to leave the EU. They will also strengthen there already very strong student vote.
A victory for Pro-EU Labour MP’s like Chuka Ummunna (pictured here).

This change has come as Pro-EU Labour MP’s have released a website called www.labour4singlemarket.org. On the website they argue that the Tories Brexit strategy is disastrous and that they want to keep Britain in the single market for a ‘jobs first Brexit’. This has put pressure on some of the Pro-EU Conservative MP’s to put pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May’s already shaky grip on power and demand that Britain goes through a ‘softer’ and ‘safer’ Brexit.

“The Labour party is serious about protecting jobs, tackling austerity and defending the rights of workers and consumers, so staying part of the customs union and in the European Economic Area is a no-brainer”

‘Labour MP’s Heidi Alexander and Alison McGovern on Labour staying part of the Single Market.’

Corbyn’s position has never been stronger

Corbyn’s Labour has now taken a position which distances them from the Tories, strengthens there student vote, wins back there UKIP voters and may entice many Conservatives over. His position is stronger than ever before and this could strengthen it even more. Though he has been critised by the former UKIP leader Nigel Farage as ‘betraying’ his voter’s, this is coming from a man who ran away from Brexit as soon as the Leave camp won.

This is all coming just before Conservative Brexit Secretary David Davis prepares another round of talks with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier.

Though they have only committed this for the ‘transitional period’ after the UK leaves the EU in 2019. But Corbyn’s teams have said that staying in the Single Market and Customs Union could extend after the ‘transitional period’, this would provide job security to millions of working class people, and could save the future of Britains economy. For the sake of future generations, staying in the Single Market and Customs Union is necessary.

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Ted James

Written by

Ted James

Writer for PoliticsMeansPolitics.com https://politicsmeanspolitics.com, Student, #StopBrexit

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