The Liberal Democrats have called on Labour to listen to its own backbenchers on Brexit, many of whom argued that Britain should stay in the single market and customs union in today’s urgent debate on the Brexit talks.

It comes after Shadow Brexit Minister Jenny Chapman today failed to answer key questions over whether Labour believes Britain should stay in the customs union.

Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake commented:

“The government’s Brexit position is collapsing under the weight of its own internal contradictions, threatening to tear the country apart in the process.

“Yet Labour’s response seems to be to attack the government while failing to put forward a coherent alternative.

“The country deserves better than this. Jeremy Corbyn must listen to his MPs who want to stay in the single market and customs union, instead of ostracising them.

“Now is the time for all progressive parties to work together to avoid a disastrous Tory Brexit and give people the final say on the deal.”

Notes

Shadow Brexit Ministrer Jenny Chapman failed to answer whether Labour believes Britain should stay in the customs union today, in an interview on BBC Daily Politics (BBC Daily Politics, 5 December, link, 12:22)

Transcript

Jo Coburn: Should we stay in the customs union?

Jenny Chapman: We would not have ruled out membership of the customs union in the way that the Prime Minister has…

Jo Coburn: What would your deal look like at this stage, if you don’t even know whether you would have been in or out of the customs union.

Jenny Chapman: We would keep it on the table.

Jo Coburn: So how could you do an agreement then?

Jenny Chapman: Because… we don’t need to have the full details agreed.