In a further sign of the party’s renewed willingness to tackle an issue it has largely avoided under Starmer, the Labor leader will draw up a plan to try to cut red tape on trade, qualifications and other issues . In his speech on Monday night at the Center for European Reform think tank, Starmer was to rule out any major changes, for example on joining the single market or reversing Brexit, saying such a move would only reignite disputes and would cause division. “In 2016, the British people voted for change. The very narrow question that was on the ballot – leave or stay in the EU – is now a thing of the past,” he is expected to say, according to excerpts released in advance by Labor. “But the hope that underpinned this vote, the desire for a better, fairer, more just future for our country, is no closer to being fulfilled.” Arguing over whether the UK should rejoin the EU would mean “looking over our shoulder” and jeopardize public faith in politics, Starmer said. “So let me be very clear: with Labour, Britain will not return to the EU. We will not join the single market. We will not join a customs union,” the speech said. “The reason I say this is simple. Nothing about revising these rows will help stimulate growth or lower food prices or help British business thrive in today’s world. It would just be a recipe for more division, distract us from taking on the challenges people face and ensure Britain remains stuck for another decade.” Detailing a plan first outlined by David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, on the sixth anniversary of Brexit in June, Starmer said a key priority would be to improve trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK by removing of most border controls. This would be done with a new veterinary agreement for agricultural trade and a system for low-risk products to enter Northern Ireland without checks. Other proposals would include a system for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications with the EU and a new policing and security arrangement with Brussels. While stressing that Labor does not want a return to freedom of movement, the plan will also include the idea of ”flexible worker mobility arrangements” for people making short-term business trips between the UK and the EU, as well as musicians and artists embarking on tours. Jenny Chapman, Labor peer and shadow Brexit minister, said the plan was not an attempt to reverse Brexit. “I think that would be the last thing the country wants to see,” he told BBC Breakfast. “We’ve had so much division since 2016. I think the last thing Keir Starmer certainly wants to do is revisit any of that. “But we think that the Conservatives, because they have this way of dealing with problems – which is about ‘if we need to create a fight to gather some political support within our party, we will do it’ – is by following this approach to issues like Northern Ireland and we think that is irresponsible and we want to see these issues resolved.”
