Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has tried to play down divisions in Labour on remaining in the single market after EU withdrawal.
Sir Keir said he wanted the same trade outcomes as backbench critics calling for the party to campaign to stay in the single market and customs union, regardless of “labels”.
“If you were to ask the vast majority of Labour Party people what do you actually want to achieve, rather than the label, we’d all be in huge agreement.”
Speaking at a Fabian Society conference in London, Sir Keir reiterated that Labour would vote against any Brexit deal that did not contain the “exact same benefits” that the UK currently enjoys through membership of the single market and customs union.
Wes Streeting has claimed the party is confused over its Brexit stance (Laura Lean/PA)
The comments came after Labour MP Wes Streeting said the party was now the “single biggest barrier” to Britain remaining in the single market.
He said if the Labour leadership committed to staying in the trading arrangement it would be a “game-changing moment” in British politics as it would command a majority of cross-party MPs.