Corbyn's shadow cabinet has been dogged by accusations from Labour Remainers that it will not oppose a Tory Brexit. But Keir Starmer points in the opposite direction.
Keir Starmer caused a Twitter storm this weekend after saying that any claims that Labour will support the Brexit Bill are “bogus”.
The shadow secretary of state for exiting the European Union was responding to accusations by the former Labour spin-doctor Alastair Campbell, who argued that Labour would support Theresa May’s European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, when it reaches the Commons in the next few weeks.
Replying to a Guardian opinion piece by Campbell, Starmer took to Twitter saying:
“Thought long & hard about responding to this from @campbellclaret – his core argument – that I have ever suggested that Labour will not vote against a Tory Brexit that fails our 6 tests – is bogus. But at least it gives me the chance to reiterate that!”
The one-time Labour grandee tweeted back with a “good to hear.”
Keir Starmer tells @campbellclaret that Labour could vote against Brexit deal if it does not pass his six tests. Not sure this is the way to form Labour policy on Europe, but hey, a small shaft of grey light is shed in a dark corner. https://t.co/0IjHUmPJhh
— Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) May 27, 2018
And while it is still uncertain whether the heavily amended Bill will pass Starmer’s “six tests”, the Labour frontbencher seemed to indicate otherwise. When challenged on social media by Open Europe director, Henry Newman, Starmer said his tests, which are based on the Tories’ Brexit promises, would not be “lowered”.
Starmer’s six tests for the Brexit deal are:
1. Does it ensure a strong and collaborative future relationship with the EU?
2. Does it deliver the “exact same benefits” as we currently have as members of the Single Market and Customs Union?
3. Does it ensure the fair management of migration in the interests of the economy and communities?
4. Does it defend rights and protections and prevent a race to the bottom?
5. Does it protect national security and our capacity to tackle cross-border crime?
6. Does it deliver for all regions and nations of the UK?
It’s hard to see how any deal May produces will produce the ‘exact same benefits’ as staying in the Single Market and Customs Union – suggesting a vote against the deal is inevitable.
May’s nightmares
But as far as Theresa May is concerned, this is a bad time for Labour to unite against Brexit. Her Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, spent the bank holiday weekend arguing passionately in favour of ‘hard Brexit’. Johnson echoed other Brexiteers’ concerns over May’s customs union “backstop” – which would leave Britain in line with current EU membership status – calling for a “fully out” position.
And the Foreign Secretary has allies in many places.
The chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, is calling for more powers to be given to Boris Johnson during a speech held today:
“Successive Foreign Secretaries – including the current one – have been hobbled. They’ve had the title, but they haven’t had the power.”
As Labour unites, could we be seeing a leadership challenge in the Conservative Party soon?
Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.
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