'What on Earth is Labour's policy?' Andrew Neil GRILLS MP over Corbyn's Brexit strategy
BBC host Andrew Neil blasted Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald over the Labour Party's undecisive policy on the UK's single market membership after Brexit.
The BBC presenter brutally questioned the Labour frontbencher on his party's Brexit policy on Britain's membership of the EU single market and customs union.
Mr Neil said: "Can I just point out that when these two issues came up in the Commons, Mr Corbyn whipped Labour MPs to vote against the single market and against the customs union.
"He whipped them and those who defied the whip, the rebels, were fired. So, given you did that – and now we’re being told we can stay in the single market – what on Earth’s is Labour’s policy?"
BBC
During a fiery exchange on BBC Daily Politics, the BBC host repeatedly asked Mr McDonald whether the party had an agreed line on Brexit.
Mr Neil said: "When John McDonnell said we must leave the single market, and Keir Starmer says we should stay in the single market, who speaks for Labour?"
The Labour MP attempted to justify his party's position on Brexit, claiming it would keep the option to stay in the single market "available" despite pledges from the British Government to leave after Brexit.
Mr McDonald said: "What I’m saying to you is that the transitional period that we have promoted keeps the single market available.
"We should have a transitional period where the regulatory environment is exactly the same as it is now for us to find that time to negotiate a settlement that suits the entire United Kingdom."
Labour has been accused of yet another backtrack after shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer urged the Government to put access to the Customs Union and Single Market “back on the table” – even though Jeremy Corbyn previously ruled it out.
Mr Corbyn told Bloomberg earlier in July 2017: “The single market is a concept that requires membership of the European Union.”
He even sacked three frontbenchers for supporting a rebel amendment and backing continued membership in a Commons vote.
But in spite of the heavy-handed response, the Labour leader appeared to have changed his tune by the time the party conference rolled around.
Mr Corbyn vowed Labour would “guarantee unimpeded access to the single market" in a Brexit deal with the EU.
