Sir Keir Starmer was handed a new Brexit headache today after 13 Labour MPs broke ranks to back an effort to create a new EU/UK customs union, six years after Brexit.
The stunt by the Lib Dems will now go to another debate and vote after their support and that of Remain-backing former Tory minister turned Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes allowed it to pass by a single vote.
Sir Ed Davey had called on Sir Keir Starmer to give his MPs a free vote on the 10-minute rule motion, which allows MPs to make a case for a new law in a speech to the Commons.
Those who supported the move included serial hard Left rebels Richard Burgon and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, plus 2024 intake Crawley MP Peter Lamb and Dame Meg Hillier, the senior select committee chairwoman.
The measure is almost certain to fall at the next hurdle when Labour MPs are likely to be told to vote against it.
But it shows that MPs are prepared to publicly back the idea of unravelling Brexit despite protestations at the top.
Sir Keir and allies have been trying to distance themselves from the idea of rejoining a customs union in recent days, after it emerged that a No10 adviser suggested it in September as a way to boost the economy.
Last week Deputy PM David Lammy spoke warmly of the idea of rejoining, despite it being beyond Labour’s ‘red lines’ on their plan for a closer relationship with Brussels.
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: ‘Joining a customs union with the EU would be a complete betrayal of the 2016 referendum result…
‘Following David Lammy’s comments last week, and now Labour MPs failing to stand against a customs union, Keir Starmer must commit to never trying to take us into the EU by the back door.’
Sir Keir and allies have been trying to distance themselves from the idea of rejoining a customs union in recent days, after it emerged that a No10 adviser suggested it in September as a way to boost the economy.
The stunt by the Lib Dems will now go to another debate and vote after their support and that of Remain-backing former Tory minister turned Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes allowed it to pass by a single vote.
Last week Deputy PM David Lammy spoke warmly of the idea of rejoining, despite it being beyond Labour’s ‘red lines’ on their plan for a closer relationship with Brussels.
The so-called 10-minute rule bill, tabled by the Liberal Democrat Europe spokesman Al Pinkerton, ended in a tie of 100 votes to 100, which gave the deputy speaker the casting vote.
Deputy Speaker Caroline Noakes said: ‘In accordance with precedent, I will cast the casting vote ‘aye’ to allow further debate.’
Mr Pinkerton said there was ‘debate on this issue within (Sir Keir’s) own party and Cabinet’ and that the vote would be ‘on a knife edge,’ which Government sources had denied before the vote.
Sir Keir was forced to clarify his position on rejoining the customs union last week after Mr Lammy praised how membership had boosted growth in other countries.
Asked on the News Agents podcast if he would like to see the UK in a customs union, Mr Lammy had said: ‘That is not currently our policy.
‘That’s not currently where we are.
‘But you can see countries like Turkey with a customs union seemingly benefiting and seeing growth in their economy, and, again, that’s self-evident.’
Sir Keir later said Labour would be sticking to its manifesto, which pledged to strengthen ties with Brussels without returning to the customs union, single market or freedom of movement.
‘The position that we are taking has been clearly set out in the manifesto and then we’ve been following it,’ he said.
The Tories said the Lib Dems would ‘never stop trying to reopen the debates of the past’.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: ‘Ed Davey and the Liberal Democrats have never moved on from the Brexit referendum nearly a decade ago.
‘And they will never stop trying to reopen the debates of the past – whatever the cost – when the rest of the country has long since moved on.
‘The Liberal Democrats would rather try to turn the clock back, than focus on the difficult decisions needed to tackle welfare spending so we can live within our means.’
A Government spokesperson said: ‘We reset relations with the EU at our historic May summit, securing a deal that is good for jobs, bills, and borders.
‘We have made good progress since then, including starting negotiations in the last month on a food and drink deal to slash red tape for businesses and bring down prices.
‘Throughout this process we’re putting the national interest first, building a closer trading relationship with the EU while at the same time securing trade agreements with the US and India.’