Jeremy Corbyn is now 'open' to staying in the single market after Brexit

pulse

September 11, 2017 2:14 PM

The Labour leader appeared to support keeping the option of staying in the single market after Brexit on the table.

LONDON — Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is now "open" to the UK staying in the single market permanently after Brexit.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's World at One, Corbyn said that he wants "a relationship which allows us to trade within the single market," and that might mean "formal membership."

"We want a relationship which allows us to trade within the single market," he told Martha Kearney.

"Whether that is formal membership, which is only possible, I believe, if you are actually a member of the EU, or whether it is an agreed trading relationship, is open for discussion."

The Labour leader said: "The outcome is more important than the nomenclature on the way," refusing to rule out leaving the single market after Brexit.

In August shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer announced that a Labour government would keep the UK in the single market and customs union during a transition period, and left the door open for Labour to back remaining inside after Brexit.

Deputy leader Tom Watson also suggested that staying in the single market "might be a permanent outcome of negotiations."

However, Corbyn said that the UK should stay in the single market "for as short as possible" but "as long as necessary" during a transition period.

Managed migration

He suggested that "there has to be managed migration based on needs of people and the needs of the economy," but did not say whether Labour was against free movement of labour continuing.

Corbyn said the country needed "proper regulation of the labour market" and that "the undercutting of workers rights anywhere is dangerous."

This morning, the general secretary of the TUC Frances O'Grady told its annual conference that Labour should "put jobs, rights and livelihoods first" by "keeping all options on the table" in negotiations.

MPs will vote on the second reading of the EU withdrawal bill on Monday evening, and Labour has ordered its MPs to vote against the Conservative government and the bill.

Corbyn said that he had told his party to vote down the bill because of concerns over "democratic accountability" and that this is a "power grab" by the government.

When asked whether he would lead Labour into the next election, he replied: "I'm fit and healthy, don't worry about that."

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