Despite claiming to respect the will of the people, Labour is plotting to vote against key Brexit legislation and frustrate the government’s efforts to leave the European Union (EU).
Theresa May’s government had been banking on the opposition supporting the “Great Repeal Bill”, which will transfer large swathes of EU law into British law before the UK leaves the bloc.
It was due to be included in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday, and if it is not passed in time Britain risks a chaotic departure with legislation in disarray.
According to The Times, Labour is planning an alternative “workers Brexit” amendment to the speech, which is almost certain to fail. However, it will allow Labour MPs to claim they have attempted to implement Brexit, despite efforts being futile.
Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, refused on Sunday to say whether Labour would support the Great Repeal Bill, saying he would wait to study the legislation.
“The question of whether in the end, we stay in the Customs Union is one that we need to address when we get to the end of the negotiating process because it will depend on what level of access we’ve got to the Single Market,” he told Pienaar’s Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The question then will be: is it better to have freedom to strike new deals across the world or are we better off staying with deals that are struck by the EU?
“That is something that at the moment we can’t answer. That is why we’ve said look at the outcomes, leave options on the table.”
Less than a week ago, a Labour shadow minister contradicted a key manifesto pledge, insisting “there will have to be some element of free movement” in a Brexit deal.
However, the Labour manifesto clearly states: “Freedom of movement will end when we leave the European Union”; EU negotiators have insisted free movement is a key condition for Single Market membership.