Finally, after months of procrastination, Jeremy corbyn has set out his party's stall on the exit from Brexit. Well, sort of, maybe; or perhaps the sound of screeching U-Turns that filled the streets of Coventry this morning, may herald a totally different view
So he's nailed it then?
Not exactly. Mr Corbyn a confirmed and very long-standing Eurosceptic has said that the Labour way forward is to remain in the Single Market and in the EU Customs Union, which will allow the UK tariff-free access to the EU, but only if we can have a say in how it is run.
This would also allow a soft border with Northern Ireland thereby negating the problem of what to do to keep the North from returning to sectarian violence. Confused...well, of course, you are because so is Jeremy. His motives, to say the least, are a little suspect, a move that some would say is simply to put pressure on Theresa May and underwhelm her negotiating efforts in Brussels.
Labour is caught between a rock and a hard place, swathes of their constituents voted to remain, while swathes of their constituents voted to leave; that is probably why he kept returning to the call for unity throughout his speech as he is walking an uncertain tightrope trying to keep the yeas and nays on the same side.
The DUP
The problem is the elephant in the room the DUP. They appear to be a party who could not agree on the colour blue, even if it was obviously blue, as the devolved government has been suspended because no one can decide if the Irish language is worthy of being taught in schools? They are undoubtedly the cement that is currently holding the Conservative government together, and although strongly pro-Brexit, they are equally as strongly against a hard border; so look out for trouble no matter the outcome.
You should ask, if you want to remain in the single-market, then remain in the EU, for, oh dear, it is a case of cherry picking yet again. If one was cynical, the whole ruse could be taken as a ploy to force a General Election, for without it all Labour's proposals and posturing don't really mean very much. No doubt they are hoping for a parliamentary vote on the minutiae of the deal which will throw all the negotiations up in the air again and they can press for another general election. But at least there is now clear and distinct differences between the government and the opposition; watch the coming months and fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
