Jeremy Corbyn says Labour would leave the single market
Labour was plunged into a fresh bout of Brexit infighting last night after Jeremy Corbyn said he supported Britain leaving the EU single market.
Ending months of confusion over his party’s policy, the Labour leader said the UK must quit the common market because it is ‘inextricably’ part of the EU.
But he admitted his party had not made up its mind on membership of the Customs Union â€" which places tariffs on imports from around the world and stops Britain negotiating trade deals.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he believes Britain should leave the EU single market
Former Labour front bencher Chuka Umunna, pictured, said some countries such as Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway had single market membership despite being outside the EU
His comments sparked fury from Remain-supporting Labour MPs. Former frontbencher Chuka Umunna said some countries were outside the EU but inside the single market, including Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.
The Blairite MP pointed to polls suggesting most Labour members support continued single market membership.
‘The overwhelming majority of Labour members think we should be fighting to stay in the single market - let’s do it,’ he said.
Mr Corbyn said Labour had made it clear it wanted tariff free trade with the EU but had not ‘jumped on either side’ of the fence on customs union membership.
He told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: ‘The single market is dependent on membership of the EU. What we have said all along is that we want a tariff free trade access to the European market and a partnership with Europe in the future.
‘The two things are inextricably linked so the question then is the kind of trade relationship of the future and we have made it very clear we want a tariff free trade access with the European market.
‘We haven’t jumped on either side of that fence but, again, the customs union is part of the European Union.’
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake accused Mr Corbyn of ‘parroting lies’.
‘Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to stand up for the single market is a betrayal of future generations who will suffer most from an extreme Brexit.
‘He is parroting the lie used by leading Brexiteers that membership of the single market is the same as staying in the EU.’
Tory MP Nusrat Ghani said: ‘Week after week Jeremy Corbyn and his top team are simply unable to give straight answers on Brexit.
‘Labour’s confusion and inability to agree on anything shows they are not up to the job of negotiating a Brexit deal.
‘Whilst Labour cannot agree on anything the Conservatives are getting on with the job of negotiating the best Brexit deal and making the most of the opportunities of leaving the EU.’
During the vote on the Queen’s Speech 49 Labour MPs backed an amendment, proposed by Mr Umunna, that Britain should stay in the single market.
It forced Mr Corbyn to sack three front benchers and a fourth resigned.
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