Sir Keir Starmer has been warned Labour MPs risk sparking an internal “civil war” by backing manifesto-breaking legislation for the UK to negotiate a customs union deal with the EU.
Thirteen Labour MPs last month voted in favour of the Private Members’ Bill brought to the House of Commons by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Al Pinkerton.
The legislation will return to the House of Commons on January 16, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting already calling for a “deeper trading relationship” with Brussels.
Despite railing against Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, the Prime Minister maintains his 2024 manifesto commitment not to drag Britain back into the EU’s single market or customs union.
However, two Labour MPs have put pressure on Sir Keir not to buckle to Brexit rebels.
Dan Carden told The Mail on Sunday: “We hear suggestions that this is being seriously contemplated by some at the very top of the Government.
“Moreover, we hear that it appears to be the aim of people who now have designs on the PM’s job.
“Andy Burnham has declared how he wants to see us back in the EU in his lifetime, while Wes Streeting wants us to have a deeper trading relationship with Europe.”
The Prime Minister maintains his 2024 manifesto commitment not to drag Britain back into the EU’s single market or customs union
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Meanwhile, Labour MPs in pro-Brexit seats fear reneging on Brexit could risk Reform UK making further inroads into the so-called Red Wall.
Veteran Labour Brexiteer Graham Stringer said: “It will lead to civil war inside Labour.
“Starmer’s Parliamentary colleagues know they stood on a clear manifesto pledge to do no such thing.
“It would be especially difficult for Labour MPs in the so-called Red Wall to support such a flagrant manifesto breach as many have Reform breathing down their necks. They would be committing electoral suicide.”
Labour MP Dan Carden has put pressure on Sir Keir Stamer over Brexit
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PARLIAMENT TVSir Keir, who supported a second referendum on EU membership as Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, has already come under fire after signing up to a £570million per year deal to rejoin Erasmus.
However, the Prime Minister insists he is not looking to rejoin the customs union.
Sir Keir’s No10 is clear that staying outside the single market and customs union remains a manifesto “red line” for the Government.
But the Prime Minister is facing pressure from prominent Labour figures on the matter.
Graham Stringer, a veteran Labour MP, warned Reform UK could benefit from backtracking on Brexit
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GETTYDeputy Prime Minister David Lammy last month joined Mr Streeting in calling for a closer relationship.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock have both expressed a desire to rejoin the EU.
Further pressure was placed at No10’s door last week when the Trade Union Congress urged Sir Keir not to rule out a customs deal.
However, a Labour source said: “Remainiacs around Starmer may be pushing this but it would cause mayhem in the Labour Party.
Labour’s voting base in emphatically pro-EU
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“It would mean British businesses having to take rules from Brussels without the UK Government having a say on them. It would be unacceptable.”
But Sir Keir appeared reluctant to rule out rejoining the EU in an interview with The Observer last month.
He instead said: “We’ve stopped having the discussion about whether we should go backwards and pick over Brexit.”
The Prime Minister also insisted that “the battles coming up in politics” are bigger than him or the Labour Party.