Jeremy Corbyn has refused to rule out keeping Britain in the EU single market – as Labour MPs accused him of betraying the referendum result.
The Labour leader said staying in the body was ‘open for discussion’ – despite such a move implying that free movement would continue.
The comments came as the veteran left-winger faces a damaging rebellion by up to a dozen MPs when the crucial EU Withdrawal Bill has its second reading vote tonight.
Former Europe minister Caroline Flint this morning joined those making clear they will defy Mr Corbyn in order to ‘respect’ the will of the public.
Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of backsliding on Brexit by Tory MP Dominic Raab
Former Europe minister Caroline Flint said this morning that she would defy Mr Corbyn in order to ‘respect’ the will of the public. Shadow minister John Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne in South Yorkshire, told Mr Corbyn privately that he is ‘sending the wrong message’ to voters in the party’s northern heartlands
The landmark measures would scrap the legislation that underpins our ties to Brussels, while at the same time copying all current EU law on to the domestic statute book to minimise disruption.
But Labour and some Tory MPs are concerned that ministers will also get so-called ‘Henry VIII’ powers to amend the rules as they are transposed.
Potential Conservative rebels have signalled that they will support the Bill in principle at second reading – keeping their powder dry for later in the parliamentary process.
That should mean the government has a comfortable majority in the key vote tonight.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Mr Corbyn pleaded with colleagues to toe the Labour line on the bill tonight.
Pressed on whether his party could support staying in the single market, after a series of shifts in its position on the issue, Mr Corbyn said: ‘There has to be a trade relationship with Europe, whether that’s formally in the single market or whether that’s an agreement to trade within the single market. That’s open to discussion or negotiation.’
He added: ‘We want a relationship which allows us to trade within the single market.
CORBYNISTAS TAKE KEY LABOUR ROLES FROM MODERATES
Ms De Piero highlighted abuse she received from left-wingers during the campaign
Corbynistas have taken key Labour roles in a major boost for the party’s Left wing.
Tottenham CLP secretary Seema Chandwani and ex-Communication Workers Union boss Billy Hayes overwhelmingly beat moderate MP Gloria De Piero and Labour peer Michael Cashman for seats on the Conference Arrangements Committee.
The victors – supported by the Momentum campaign group – won around 200,000 votes between them.
By contrast the moderates received some 100,000.
The result means the left of the party will control much of the agenda for next year’s Labour conference.
Ms De Piero congratulated the successful candidates, but also highlighted abuse she received from left-wingers during the campaign.
She retweeted a message stating: ‘Now get the trojan-horse tory blairites OUT of our party.’
‘A kinder, gentler politics lives on,’ Ms De Piero wrote.
‘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.’
Mr Corbyn, who had flatly ruled out staying in the single market before parliament’s summer break, also repeatedly dodged saying that free movement should end after a post-Brexit transition deal.
He appeared not to know the current figure for net annual immigration, merely saying it was below 300,000. And he declined to say inflows should come down, saying EU workers were essential to the NHS.
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn later sought to clarify his words again, saying the ‘position hasn’t changed’.
‘We won’t be “members” of the single market after the transition. We want to achieve full tariff free access to the single market,’ the spokesman said.
‘That could be achieved by a new relationship with the single market or a bespoke trade deal with the EU, which was what Jeremy was referring too.’
Earlier, Mrs Flint told the Today programme: ‘I do believe that in respecting the outcome of the referendum, in respecting what I said to my electors in the general election just a few months ago, it is important that we get on with the job of making sure we can have as smooth an exit from the EU as possible.’
Shadow minister John Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne in South Yorkshire, has reportedly told Mr Corbyn privately that he is ‘sending the wrong message’ to voters in the party’s northern heartlands.
Sources say Mr Healey, Labour’s housing spokesman, told last week’s shadow cabinet meeting: ‘We are sending the wrong signal to the country with this. We have to vote for the bill.’ The law will repeal the European Communities Act of 1972 which enshrines the supremacy of EU law. It will also smooth the path to Brexit by transferring EU laws on to the domestic statute book.
After months of changing its policy on Brexit, Labour now backs staying in the single market and customs union for years after we leave the bloc during any ‘transition’ phase. Tony Blair yesterday applauded the approach, saying it was ‘greatly to be welcomed’.
Labour MP Kate Hoey last week accused her party of ‘trying to scupper Brexit’.
Hundreds of amendments could be table as the EU Withdrawal Bill goes into committee stage, with peers vowing ‘trench warfare’ to soften Theresa May’s approach to Brexit.
Brexit Secretary David Davis (pictured in the Commons last week) is braced for the first key votes on the EU Withdrawal Bill tonight
Mr Davis (left) has been embroiled in fraught Brexit negotiations with the EU’s Michel Barnier
Ahead of the debate today, Mr Davis said: ‘A vote against this Bill is a vote for a chaotic exit from the European Union.
‘The British people did not vote for confusion and neither should Parliament.
‘Providing certainty and stability in the lead up to our withdrawal is a key priority.
‘Businesses and individuals need reassurance that there will be no unexpected changes to our laws after exit day and that is exactly what the repeal bill provides.
‘Without it, we would be approaching a cliff edge of uncertainty which is not in the interest of anyone.’
The pressures on Mr Corbyn from the wings of his party were underlined last night when shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman insisted free movement must end after we leave the EU.
Many Labour MPs are pressing the leadership to say unfettered immigration can continue so the UK can stay in the EU single market.
But Mrs Chapman — who represents Brexit-backing Darlington — said that was not acceptable.
‘We need control. What people wanted when they voted is to have control over the system,’ she told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour.
Justice Minister Dominic Raab accused Mr Corbyn of fraud over the weekend after Labour told Brexit supporters during the election that it would respect the result of the referendum.
He told Sky News: ‘Come Monday evening I think the Labour Party will have their cards called because they toured up and down the country saying they were going to back Brexit.
‘Now they’re voting against this whole bill. That is a fraud, it is Jeremy Corbyn’s biggest con trick on Labour voters and the country yet.’ Up to 30 Labour MPs may rebel today by voting for the bill. Those who represent seats that voted for Brexit fear they will face a wave of anger from constituents.’
The EU Withdrawal Bill was in the Commons last week, and will have its crucial second reading vote late tonight