The shadow Secretary for Exiting the European Union, Mr Keir Starmer MP, has urged the Government to clarify the next step it will be taking towards Brexit.
Speaking in the commons, the former QC insisted that the Government should reveal its proposed plans for triggering Article 50 prior to the mandatory parliamentary debate. Mr Starmer added that the Labour party should be able to amend any bill put forward that addresses the Brexit process, with the party aiming in particular to prioritise access to the Customs Union as well as aspects of the single market.
However, there has also been some confusion over the weekend regarding Labour’s own position on Brexit. Mr Starmer attempted to rectify this on Monday after comments made by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn which insinuated the party would block Brexit if their demands were not adequately respected.
Deputy Leader Tom Watson was forced to clarify Corbyn’s comments, telling BBC Radio 5 Live:
“We’re not going to hold this up. The British people have spoken and Article 50 will be triggered when it comes to Westminster.”
Mr Starmer echoed this sentiment today, re-asserting to the commons that the party had no intention of deliberately holding up the Brexit process.
“We will not frustrate the process by simply voting down Article 50, but we are absolutely clear that before we get to that stage the government must put its plan before Parliament.”
He added: “We can’t have a vote in a vacuum, but we can’t proceed with this approach where the prime minister says, ‘I hold all the cards to the future of the UK in Europe and its relationship with Europe and the world and I’m not going disclose even the basic terms to Parliament’. So of course we need that discussion.”
The Prime Minister is currently on a state visit to India – where she has been discussing diplomatic relations and immigration regulations with the commonwealth nation.