LABOUR politicians from England, Scotland and Wales have come together in a new drive to prevent a hard Tory Brexit.
Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray and Welsh Labour MP Stephen Doughty have joined Alison McGovern MP as directors of the Labour Campaign for the Single Market.
With the Labour Party recently adopting a policy in favour of a customs union with the EU, the move marks a new stage in the campaign for permanent UK membership of the European Single Market – to protect jobs and defend workers’ rights.

The campaign’s immediate aims include:

• Persuading Labour MPs to back European Economic Area (EEA) membership in a vote expected in the Commons before summer.
• Giving Labour members a democratic say on the party’s Brexit policy at the annual conference in Liverpool.
• Encouraging the Labour leadership to back Single Market membership ahead of a vote on the final Brexit deal this autumn.

Labour Campaign for the Single Market director and MP for Edinburgh South, Ian Murray, said:
“We are entering a new phase of the campaign against a Tory hard Brexit.
“The parliamentary process is approaching a pivotal moment, and it is within Labour’s power to stop Theresa May taking the UK over the cliff-edge.
“I’ll be working hard with colleagues from England and Wales to protect jobs and defend workers’ rights.
“There is no such thing as a good Brexit, but the least-worst option if we are to leave the EU is permanent membership of the Single Market. We know that’s now within our grasp, and we must seize this huge opportunity.”

Labour Campaign for the Single Market director and MP for Wirral South, Alison McGovern, said:
“Bringing together Labour politicians from England, Scotland and Wales demonstrates that we are united in seeking to prevent a hard Tory Brexit.
“The Government’s own analysis shows that crashing out of the Single Market will be devastating for our economy, which is why it made no sense for Theresa May to rule it out before the Brexit negotiations even started.
“The Labour Party must come together to fight for a clear and better outcome. Future generations will not forgive us for inaction when faced with a Brexit that will cause untold damage to our country and our economy.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Ian Murray is also co-chair of the Scottish Labour for the Single Market campaign. He will continue in that role along with Kezia Dugdale MSP and Catherine Stihler MEP.

Information on the Labour Campaign for the Single Market can be found here: https://www.labour4singlemarket.org/