Labour party's announcement that it wants the UK to remain within EU's economic structures in the years to come, is the best news to come out of British politics in a long time. In fact architects of Labour's Brexit policy have said that they are ready to take a 'political hit' after it exposed divisions at the top of the party.
The party's decision, though puts leader Jeremy Corbyn in the eye of the storm, it has come as the first major party initiative that categorically renounces unrealistic hopes of a quick and easy exit.
Allies of Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer also accepted their proposal would mean the party is accused of wanting to keep the EU free movement many Labour voters oppose, but said it was the “least worst option” for the economy and critical to safeguarding jobs. But others at the top of the party branded the move “unwise” and warned it would be “incredibly damaging” in Labour voting areas that had backed Brexit in a bid to reduce immigration.
This announcement that has caught the attention of the mainstream news media, actually puts Labour much ahead of the Conservatives. Though referendum was a part of Tory manifesto, only this summer the Treasury has actually tiptoed towards a more rational approach. Philip Hammond and the Treasury have won the argument that a transition period will be needed after the UK formally leaves in March 2019. The Whitehall has also shifted its line on the role of European Court Justice, and have signalled that it wants to replicate the arrangements of the present customs union, especially after Boris Johnson said that Britain needs to leave the customns union with “speed and efficiency” after Brexit amid a new cabinet row.
Labour has simply taken a logical conclusion, free movements, ECJ jurisdiction and precludes separate trade agreements and exposed the sheer impracticality and lack of grasp by Theresa May's government, as pointed by former UK cabinet minister and EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson.
The former Labour leader Tony Blair is also meant to hold talks in Brussles with European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker, amid claims he could try to undermine UK's negotiations on a Brexit deal that took place last week. David Davis, the Brexit secretary has become frustrated by the lack of progress of his talks and is considering pulling out of the joint press conference with Michael Barnier on Thursday.
Theresa May is therefore facing renewed pressure from her own party, after Labour party's announcement. Jeremy Corbyn had first supported the remain camp, but eventually promised to not stand in the way of May's Brexit plans.
