Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell insists Labour have not ruled out single market membership – contradicting Jeremy Corbyn
After union concern, Mr McDonnell said the party was 'ruling nothing out'
LABOUR’S Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell last night insisted the party had NOT ruled out single market membership - directly contradicting Jeremy Corbyn.
A day after unions demanded Labour change its position Mr McDonnell said yesterday the party was “ruling nothing out”.
In comments which incensed pro-EU Labour MPs, he said he would quit the single market because it was “inextricably linked” to EU membership.
And he insisted Labour would ban the “wholesale importation” of EU workers on the lowest wages because it “destroys conditions” in the building industry.
But yesterday after unions urged Labour to row back from the comments, the Shadow Chancellor admitted the party was “ruling nothing out” on membership to the single market.
He said: “The position for us is straightforward. Our objective is tariff-free access to the market and that’s been our objective from immediately after the referendum.
“In fact I made a speech within nine days of the referendum saying exactly that.
“The structures are a secondary matter, whether we’re in, whether we’re out, it’s got to achieve those objectives.
“We’re not ruling anything out but what we’re saying is we’re the fifth largest economy in the world, we have a special status in both our relationship with Europe and the rest of the globe.
“So therefore we feel we can get a deal that achieves tariff-free access and the issue of structures is secondary.”
Manuel Cortes, General secretary of transport union the TSSA wrote in the New Statesman: “Labour says it wants access to the single market but an end to freedom of movement.
“But Brussels says there is no pick and mix - free movement is the price off access to the single market.
“Labour must now be bold enough to steer away from the (left-wing exit) and Brexit propagandists who would have us seek the unachievable."
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Last night Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer weighed in saying no options for Brexit should be off the table in the latest sign of Labour splits on the issue.
Sir Keir told senior business figures it was "vital" to obtain the benefits of the single market and the customs union and "how we achieve that is secondary to the outcome".
Speaking at a Labour in the City event, he said: "Labour's objective is tariff-free access to the single market, no new red tape at customs and a deal that works for services as well as goods.
"It is vital that we retain the benefits of the single market and the customs union. How we achieve that is secondary to the outcome and should be part of the negotiations. We need to be flexible in our approach and not sweep options off the table."