We could stay members of EU customs union, says Keir Starmer

Sunday, 18 June 2017 12:56

The option of remaining a member of the EU’s customs union “should be left on the table” during the Brexit talks, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary said today. Speaking on told the BBC’s John Pienaar on Sunday, he said any decision would depend on how good the Brexit deal is, and would ultimately come to a trade-off between the benefits of having the freedom to strike new trade deals – which customs union membership precludes – and the benefits of sticking with...Request free trial

The option of remaining a member of the EU’s customs union “should be left on the table” during the Brexit talks, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary said today.

Speaking on told the BBC’s John Pienaar on Sunday, he said any decision would depend on how good the Brexit deal is, and would ultimately come to a trade-off between the benefits of having the freedom to strike new trade deals – which customs union membership precludes – and the benefits of sticking with deals struck by the EU, Starmer said:

Sir Keir Starmer: To be fair let’s take the question of the customs union. There’s a lot of anxiety in the business community about stepping outside the customs union because it creates so many difficulties. And that’s why we’ve said it’s an option that should be left on the table. The question of whether in the end we stay in the customs union is one that we need to address when we get to the end of the negotiating process because it will depend on what level of access we’ve got to the Single Market. The question then will be is it better to have freedom to strike new deals across the world or are we better off staying with deals that are struck by the EU. That is something that at the moment we can’t answer. That is why we’ve said look at the outcomes, leave options on the table. That’s a perfectly sensible negotiating strategy.

John Pienaar: And it was also a clear answer. For which I thank you.

KS: I’m sorry it’s a long answer but everyone wants yes or no and I think it’s a huge mistake to flick to yes no answers.

JP: Even in a limited time show such as this you can give longer answers and you have given one there which is that you are prepared to be open to the idea of remaining in the customs union even if it means passing by the opportunity to do trade deals around the world. Which is a central pillar of the government’s Brexit strategy. You’d be prepared to throw that one.

KS: The deal with the EU matters more than any deal, everybody knows it’s 44% of our trade. That’s the one that really matters. The final analysis will have to be done when they see what the model is.