Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer will promise not to bring the UK back into the single market or restore freedom of movement as he sets out his plan to “make Brexit work”.
He will use a speech on Monday to say that a government under his leadership will not join a customs union with the EU to preserve the hard Brexit deal brokered by Boris Johnson.
Instead, the opposition leader will promise to make the existing “bad deal” work by first fixing the Northern Ireland Protocol, which the Prime Minister is threatening to scrap.
In a closed-door speech to the Center for European Reform think tank, Sir Keir will promise to “do away with most border checks” under the current deal.
We will invest in our people and our places and deliver on the promise our country holds
Sir Keir Starmer
He will work for a new veterinary agreement for agricultural products moving between the UK and the EU and improve confidence to allow low-risk goods to enter Northern Ireland without unnecessary checks.
“We will make the protocol work and turn it into a springboard to deliver a better deal for the British people,” Sir Keir is expected to say as he promises to “remove unnecessary barriers”.
Having served as shadow Brexit secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir will be hoping that taking a hard line on the future relationship with the EU will distance him from previous support for a possible second referendum.
“There are some who say ‘We don’t need to make Brexit work. We have to turn it around.” I couldn’t disagree more,” Sir Keir will argue.
“Because you cannot move forward or develop the country or bring about change or win back the trust of those who have lost faith in politics if you constantly focus on the arguments of the past.
“So let me be very clear: with Labor Britain will not return to the EU. We will not join the single market. We will not enter a customs union.
“The reason I say this is simple. Nothing about revisiting these disputes will help boost growth or reduce food prices, nor will it help British business thrive in today’s world.
“It would simply be a recipe for more division, distract us from taking on the challenges that people face and ensure that Britain remains stranded for another decade.”
He will add: “We will not go back to freedom of movement to create short-term solutions. Instead, we will invest in our people and our places and deliver on the promise our country holds.
Sir Keir will say his plan will “deliver on the options Britain has, resolve the bad deal signed by Boris Johnson and end Brexit disagreements once and for all”.
And he will argue that his vision is “very different” to the Tory position, which he says is “about reducing standards, regulations and protections before standing back and staring at market forces”.
Instead, under its five-point plan, Labor will work to support industries by working towards mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
He said he would also work to strengthen security cooperation with Europe, seeking new measures to secure Britain’s borders while sharing data and intelligence with allies.
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