According to the media Labour is to dramatic policy shift by backing continued membership of the EU single market beyond March 2019, when Britain leaves the EU, establishing a clear dividing line with the Tories on Brexit for the first time.
The Guardian says.
In a move that positions it decisively as the party of “soft Brexit”, Labour have said support full participation in the single market and customs union during a lengthy “transitional period” that it believes could last between two and four years after the day of departure, it is to announce on Sunday.
This will mean that under a Labour government the UK would continue to abide by the EU’s free movement rules, accept the jurisdiction of the European court of justice on trade and economic issues, and pay into the EU budget for a period of years after Brexit, in the hope of lessening the shock of leaving to the UK economy. In a further move that will delight many pro-EU Labour backers, Jeremy Corbyn’s party will also leave open the option of the UK remaining a member of the customs union and single market for good, beyond the end of the transitional period.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said a transitional period was needed to avoid a "cliff edge" for the economy, so that goods and services could continue to flow between the EU and UK while negotiations on the permanent deal continued.
"Labour would seek a transitional deal that maintains the same basic terms that we currently enjoy with the EU," he wrote.
"That means we would seek to remain in a customs union with the EU and within the single market during this period.
"It means we would abide by the common rules of both."
He compared this with the government's preference for "bespoke" transitional arrangements after leaving the EU, which, Sir Keir said, were highly unlikely to be negotiated before March 2019.
He did not say how long the transitional period would be - only that it would be "as short as possible, but as long as is necessary".
Its not often I find myself in agreement with Peter Black but he right in saying This is not a vision for the future, it is a holding position forced on him by his failure to take his colleagues with him. It is spin more than substance, yet another failure of leadership by the official opposition.
All this spin means is that Labour are trying to present themselves in the Brexit debate , as appearing to support a Soft Brexit and still allow the Hard Brexiters in the party which includes their leader Jeremy Corbyn leeway and allow the party to remain united going into the next election.
It reminds me of St Augustine's plea
"Lord, Make me chaste, but not yet."
Those tempted by Labour "Lets have a Hard Brexit, but not yet" spin my well consider another St Augustine's quote,
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