Labour’s leadership is “tacitly colluding” with the Conservatives over their economically damaging pursuit of a hard Brexit, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable has warned.

Cable and the parliamentary leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party are meeting on the Parliamentary estate at 9am tooday (Tuesday 9) at a ‘Single Market Summit’ to discuss how the parties can work together to ensure the UK’s continued membership of the Single Market.

Jeremy Corbyn, however, has refused to join the summit, again causing concern that the Labour leadership favours a hard Brexit.

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said:

“The Liberal Democrats have long said that we are willing to work with parties that want to avert the Conservatives’ hard Brexit, including taking the UK out of the Single Market.

“We also urge these parties to join us in trusting the public to have a vote on the terms of any deal, including the option of an Exit from Brexit.

“What is disappointing is that the Labour leadership has declined to take part in this summit, even though nearly nine in 10 of their members want them to argue for staying in the Single Market.

“It is time the Labour leadership came clean and admitted they are tacitly colluding with the Conservatives on Brexit. They are failing their members and the country.”

Notes:

Queen Mary University’s report, Grassroots, published last week, showed that 87% and 85% of Labour members backed staying in the Single Market and Customs Union respectively