British opposition leader supports customs union after Brexit

LONDON - Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, said Monday he backed a Brexit deal that maintains the benefits of the European single market and the customs union.

In what was billed as his most important Brexit speech so far, he said Britain needs a bespoke, negotiated relationship of its own with the EU with no new impediments to trade and no reduction in rights, standards and protections.

In a keynote speech in Coventry, Corbyn set out details of Labour's Brexit policy and what the future relationship should be between Britain and the remaining 27 EU member states. He said he will also press for the British parliament to have a vote on the final deal with the EU.

Political commentators say that if pro-Remain MPs from the governing Conservative Party back Labour's approach, it could spell trouble ahead for Prime Minister Theresa May.

A defeat in the House of Commons could even lead to a vote of no confidence in the government, and an early general election, some commentators have speculated.

Corbyn said in his speech: "Labour would seek a final deal that gives full access to European markets and maintains the benefits of the single market and the customs union.

"Labour would seek to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure that there are no tariffs with Europe and to help avoid any need for a hard border in Northern Ireland."

Corbyn said Labour was also clear that the option of a new UK customs union with the EU would need to ensure Britain has a say in future trade deals.

He said: "A new customs arrangement would depend on Britain being able to negotiate agreement of new trade deals in our national interest. Labour would not countenance a deal that left Britain as a passive recipient of rules decided elsewhere by others."

Corbyn said Labour respected the leave decision taken in the June 2016 referendum, adding: "We are leaving the European, but we will still be working with European partners in the economic interests of this country."

He added: "When 44 percent of our exports are to EU countries and 50 percent of our imports come from the EU, then it is in both our interests for that trade to remain tariff-free. So we will remain close to the European Union, that's obvious."

Corbyn said every country, whether it's Turkey, Switzerland, or Norway that is geographically close to the EU, without being an EU member state, has some sort of close relationship to the EU. Some more advantageous than others, he added: "Britain will need a bespoke, negotiated relationship of its own."

The Labour leader concluded his speech saying: "The EU is not the root of all our problems and leaving it will not solve all our problems. Likewise, the EU is not the source of all enlightenment and leaving it does not inevitably spell doom for our country. Brexit is what we make of it together, the priorities and choices we make in the negotiations."