David Lammy has opened the door to rejoining the EU customs union amid calls from inside No10 to reverse Brexit.
On Thursday, Mr Lammy refused to rule out rejoining the EU seven occasions throughout an interview, the place he additionally claimed that Brexit had “badly broken our economic system”.
Whereas the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed {that a} transfer to take Britain again into the customs union was not “at present” in Labour's agenda, he mentioned that it was “self-evident” that different nations had “seen progress” by doing it.
Only a day prior, Well being Secretary Wes Streeting mentioned the Authorities ought to reverse "the financial harm finished by Brexit".
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Related sentiments have additionally been echoed by Sir Keir Starmer's chief financial adviser and different senior figures inside Downing Road.
Regardless of the Labour manifesto pledging to not return to the customs union or single market final 12 months, the Prime Minister is going through rising stress from MPs and his shut circle of advisers to rethink the coverage amid bleak progress forecasts.
Discussing whether or not he want to see Britain within the customs union once more, Mr Lammy advised the Information Brokers podcast: “That isn’t at present our coverage. That’s not at present the place we’re.
“However you may see nations like Turkey with a customs union seemingly benefiting and seeing progress of their economic system, and once more, that’s self-evident.”
The Deputy Prime Minister additionally instructed that he was not capable of battle Sir Keir's stance on Brexit, saying that his feedback have been "topic to collective duty”.
After the interview went stay, senior Labour sources appeared to swipe at Mr Lammy's remarks.
Sources near Mr Lammy mentioned: "He’s in the identical place because the PM."
The Prime Minister's chief secretary, Darren Jones, additionally seemed to have jabbed at Mr Lammy within the Commons, saying that Authorities coverage can be introduced in Parliament – and never "on podcasts".
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Sir Keir has brazenly known as for Britain to ascertain nearer ties with Brussels in current weeks, telling the Girl Mayor's Banquet on Monday that it will “completely reckless” to make use of Britain's withdrawal from the EU as "a template for our future overseas coverage”.
He additionally threatened that Britain can have a “nearer relationship” with the EU by the tip of the parliamentary time period.
The Prime Minister mentioned that though rejoining the customs union was a “pink line” that his Authorities wouldn’t cross, he claimed the British individuals had been “mis-sold” on “wild guarantees” surrounding Brexit.
Shadow International Secretary Dame Priti Patel advised The Telegraph that the Prime Minister would “take us into the EU by the again door”, including that Mr Lammy “has by no means acquired over what occurred in 2016”.
She mentioned: “Rejoining the customs union or single market can be a complete betrayal of the Brexit vote, sacrificing our capability to find out our personal commerce coverage, handing over customs guidelines to Brussels bureaucrats and abandoning border management altogether.
“If Labour are actually dedicated to staying out, Starmer should publicly verify David Lammy is flawed, or voters will make their very own conclusions.”
A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned: “Our pink traces are clear: there will probably be no return to the only market or the customs union.
"We’re placing the nationwide curiosity first, constructing a more in-depth buying and selling relationship with Europe that’s good for jobs, payments, and borders.”
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