Yesterday, Donald Tusk used a hellish press conference to say that Remain had no effective representation in the UK owing to the fact that both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition support Brexit. Tusk said that as a result it was time to face up to the fact that the UK really will be leaving the EU.
Proving that point, Jeremy Corbyn has now made his biggest move on Brexit yet. The Labour leader has written to May setting out his terms should she want Labour to back her Brexit deal. In the letter are several demands which will make Eurosceptics MPs uncomfortable. Corbyn calls for the government to rework the non-legally binding political declaration which sets outs the aims for the future relationship so it includes a ‘permanent and comprehensive’ customs union and close alignment with the single market,
Given that the political declaration has no legal force, Corbyn asked that not only May accept his demands but that she then puts these new negotiating objectives into UK law so that any future leader – say a Brexiteer – could not change tack on taking power.
This is a significant step by Corbyn. Although the Labour leader told May in his conference speech that he would work with her on Brexit if she agreed to Labour policy, this new position leaves out some of Labour’s much-mocked six Brexit tests. Given the timing and the specific demands, it will be seen as a serious offer. As a result of that, it will dismay those Labour MPs who hoped Corbyn would get behind a second referendum. It will also most likely dismay No 10. May is currently banging at a closed door trying to convince EU leaders to grant a concession on the backstop and even reopen the withdrawal agreement. Brussels would much rather tinker the political declaration. Should they offer little to May on the backstop, the Prime Minister will once again be under pressure to consider backing a customs union – an option which means no free trade and is toxic to a large chunk of her party.
Comments