Some commentators are making the case that since both parties campaigned on manifestos calling for Britain to pull out of the single market this means the Conservative minority government has a mandate to do it. But is it true? A blog on The Spectator (HERE) has the full transcript of an interview with John McDonnel, the shadow chancellor, and tries to claim he says we should pull out of the single market.
The Huffington Post (HERE) suggests Jeremy Corbyn has said something along similar lines. I am not convinced either of them said these things in such clear terms at all. It was far more nuanced. John McDonnel said:
I don’t think it's [membership of the single market is] feasible but we’ve been clear all the way along. Ours is a ‘jobs first Brexit’, everything we can do to protect our economy. That must mean tariff-free access to the single market, that’s going to be our…
Corbyn in his interview said, “The Single Market is a requirement of EU membership and since we won’t be EU members there will have to be an arrangement made.”
Brexit Central has an article (HERE) saying Brexit plans are far from derailed and claims the Labour manifesto "talks about" retaking our WTO seat and the nature of Free Trade deals.
The Labour manifesto (HERE) is actually far less clear and gives plenty of room for remaining in the single market. Let us not forget that Labour is the trade union movement and they argued strongly to remain. This is what the Labour manifesto actually says:
On Brexit
We will scrap the Conservatives’ Brexit White Paper and replace it with fresh negotiating priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain. Labour will always put jobs and the economy first. (page 23)
As our trading relationship with the EU changes it is vital that we retain unrestricted access for our goods and services. (p 30)
On the WTO
Labour is committed to the rules-based international trading system of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). (p 30)
Labour will set out our priorities in an International Trade White Paper to lead a national debate on the future of Britain’s trade policy. We will ensure proper transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of all future trade and investment deals. (p 30)
These statements do not seem like the hard and fast positions that the anti-EU brigade have claimed and I for one think they could easily say that we will leave the EU but we must remain membership of the single market in order to keep unrestricted access. There is no majority in either house for exiting the single market. Even The Sun today has an article (HERE) saying there is a 44 seat majority for a soft Brexit which I think massively underestimates the numbers. About 60% of Conservative MPs voted to remain in the EU. They have not adopted Nigel Farage's position now so I think the actual majority is closer to 300 or more.
On Brexit
We will scrap the Conservatives’ Brexit White Paper and replace it with fresh negotiating priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain. Labour will always put jobs and the economy first. (page 23)
As our trading relationship with the EU changes it is vital that we retain unrestricted access for our goods and services. (p 30)
On the WTO
Labour is committed to the rules-based international trading system of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). (p 30)
Labour will set out our priorities in an International Trade White Paper to lead a national debate on the future of Britain’s trade policy. We will ensure proper transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of all future trade and investment deals. (p 30)
These statements do not seem like the hard and fast positions that the anti-EU brigade have claimed and I for one think they could easily say that we will leave the EU but we must remain membership of the single market in order to keep unrestricted access. There is no majority in either house for exiting the single market. Even The Sun today has an article (HERE) saying there is a 44 seat majority for a soft Brexit which I think massively underestimates the numbers. About 60% of Conservative MPs voted to remain in the EU. They have not adopted Nigel Farage's position now so I think the actual majority is closer to 300 or more.
