As it happenedended

Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit speech - as it happened: Labour leader backs UK membership of a customs union after leaving EU

Ashley Cowburn

Political Correspondent

Monday 26 February 2018 06:38 EST

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Jeremy Corbyn announces support of a customs union after Brexit

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Jeremy Corbyn has committed Labour to keeping the UK in a customs union with the European Union as he set out a shift in his party’s Brexit policy.

In a speech in Coventry, Mr Corbyn argued the move would enable Labour to secure “full tariff-free access” to the single market but without committing to all of its rules.

The Labour leader said: “Britain will need a bespoke relationship of its own. Labour would negotiate a new and strong relationship with the single market that includes full tariff-free access and a floor under existing rights, standards and protections.”

“Labour would seek to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure that there are no tariffs with Europe and to help avoid any need for a hard border in Northern Ireland."

David Lidington, the Cabinet minister, also used a speech in north Wales to address tensions between Westminster and the devolved administrations.

Mr Lidington said the UK Government had made a “considerable offer” to the devolved administrations with a commitment that the “vast majority” of powers returning from Brussels will start off in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast rather than Whitehall.

Boris Johnson 'backs air strikes' in Syria if chemical weapons are usedBoris Johnson appeared to back air strikes against the Assad regime if it uses chemical weapons again against rebel-held eastern Ghouta, saying the West must not “stand idly by”. Speaking in the Commons, the Foreign Secretary argued there was “no military solution that we can impose” to bring peace to war-torn Syria. But Mr Johnson agreed there was a case for “limited strikes” if there was “incontrovertible evidence of further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime or their supporters”.

Ashley Cowburn26 February 2018 16:24

Jeremy Corbyn has become a pragmatist, and pragmatists always winThis is from our political sketch writer Tom Peck on Corbyn's speech earlier today.

Ashley Cowburn26 February 2018 16:45

Labour plan to keep UK in customs union with EU is 'an option not a commitment', says Corbyn's teamLabour could ditch plans for a customs union with the EU if Brussels refuses to give the UK a say in making new trade deals, Jeremy Corbyn has said. The Labour leader’s spokesman insisted plans to stay in the customs union after Brexit were “not a commitment” after Mr Corbyn used a major speech to say his party would seek to negotiate a deal to maintain existing trading terms.

Ashley Cowburn26 February 2018 16:50

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