A Labour shadow minister has contradicted a key manifesto pledge days after the election, insisting “there will have to be some element of free movement” in a Brexit deal.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow secretary of state for business, made the statement after being asked what concessions to the European Union (EU) Labour would make to secure access to the Single Market.
However, the Labour manifesto clearly states, “freedom of movement will end when we leave the European Union”, and EU negotiators have insisted free movement is a key condition for Single Market membership.
Speaking on Radio 4 Wednesday morning, host Nick Robinson asked: “Are you prepared for the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg to have power in the UK going forwards? Are you going to consider continuing with freedom of movement?”
The shadow minister said the UK should back down on some of the areas to secure “impediment-free access” to markets.
She replied: “Well these are points for negotiation. I think we accept the fact that if we are going to have impediment-free access to the single market then there will have to be some element of free movement.
“I think we know that, the Conservative Party know that. The specific points are open to negotiation.
“In terms of Justice, I think the government was quite clear on the point that they said we will not be governed by Europe.
“That doesn’t mean to say that we won’t have an agreement with Europe to comply with certain regulations that might be in the interests of business.”
Mr. Robinson replied by explaining that “those people who campaigned to leave… they talk about controlling the borders… they talk about control of laws”.
Ms. Long-Bailey said: “I think we have to be realistic. We want a Brexit that puts jobs and the economy first.
“We are not going to use the country over the cliff in order to score some points that were put forward in the Brexit campaign itself.”
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