Brexit minister Robin Walker says Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is confused about Britain's upcoming departure from the European Union.
In an exclusive interview with Blasting News, Mr. Walker said no one knows what Labour's position on Brexit is, as it seems to change from one week to the next.
He added: 'One week you have Keir Starmer, saying one thing, and then you have Mr. Corbyn saying something different, then another comment from him the week after.'
'Strong leadership'
The Conservative candidate for the Worcester constituency said the Labour leader has favoured leaving the European Union for all of his life, but when he was selected to lead his party's campaign to remain in the trading bloc last year, he was silent throughout.
He added: 'Only a Conservative government led by Theresa May can provide the strong leadership necessary to get us through upcoming Brexit negotiations.'
But when he was asked whether he believes the current Prime Minister will walk away from negotiations with the EU, which her predecessor David Cameron failed to do, he said: 'The Prime Minister has been clear that no deal is better than a bad deal.
'We will respect the will of the British people and negotiate the best partnership possible with them to ensure both the UK and the EU can trade with each other on a tariff-free basis.'
Yet the Worcester candidate said Britain will be leaving the EU in two years' time, but the Brexit Department will seek to agree implementation arrangements to allow businesses to access Europe's markets.
'Barriers to trade are a bad thing'
He hinted at a possible transitional deal after April 2019, Britain's EU departure date.
Asked whether he believes the UK may have to resort to World Trade Organisation rules in the likely event of failing to agree a suitable trade deal with the EU, the minister said: 'Any barriers to trade are a bad thing.
We are seeking to counteract them through a trade agreement.
'Last year's result was about taking control of our laws and borders, something we will be able to do once we leave the EU.
'We must seek to try to reach a trade deal with customs arrangements.'
However, Mr. Walker said that whilst Brexit is a 'very important issue' during this General Election, it is not the only one.
The minister said it is about getting the right leadership that this country needs to negotiate properly with the other EU member states, something Mr. Corbyn cannot deliver.
He added: 'There are other issues at stake here. This general election is also about growing our economy whilst ensuring that we have the finances to pay for our public services.
'The Conservatives have better answers to these issues than Labour do. We need to go out there and convince people Jeremy Corbyn cannot provide a magic money tree to Britain's problems.'
'Make Brexit a success'
Mr. Walker, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU last year, he said: 'I always made the case that the British people should make the final decision on whether we choose to remain in the EU or not.
'I rebelled in order to get a referendum. I thought that it was right for the people to have the final say on the issue.
'People in my constituency, Worcester, thought we would have an easier path if we chose to leave the EU. However, the moment people took that decision, I said it is right for all democratic politicians to respect that and to work on making it a success. So I said on the day after the referendum that people of all good will should come together to make it a success.'
The Worcester candidate said it is a great privilege, but hard work, to be part of making Brexit work.
Despite this, Worcester Conservative Association's two youngest campaigners are at odds with each other over the UK's EU departure, despite campaigning for Mr.
Walker to get re-elected.
Adam Lawless, who is the country's youngest political activist after joining the Conservatives last year at the age of 12, said leaving the EU will allow this country to strengthen its relationship with the Commonwealth.
He added: 'Leaving the EU will make it so much easier for us to do trade deals with other countries.'
But Will Hunter, 14, who has volunteered to help the Worcester Tory candidate, questioned Mr. Lawless' claim, asking him why Britain has the fifth largest economy in the world whilst remaining part of the EU.
But the Tory activist hit back, saying the original concept of the Common Market was fantastic, but it has moved away from its original purpose.
Robin Walker, who is the son of former Worcester MP and Margaret Thatcher's former Welsh Secretary, Peter Walker, was elected as the MP for his father's former constituency in 2010.
He was appointed as Brexit minister when Theresa May became Prime Minister last July.
