Sir Keir campaigned to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, before serving as Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow Brexit secretary and backing a second referendum. But his speech on Monday was his strongest signal yet that he now wants to distance the party from any association with the Remain camp. Last month, a shadow minister said Labor would at least seek to rejoin the EU’s Single Market and a customs union once in power. Anna McMorrin, shadow justice secretary, told supporters that Labor should renegotiate the current deal with the EU, suggesting this could be a path to full re-integration. Speaking to the Labor in Communication group, Ms McMorrin said when asked if Britain could return to the Single Market: “I hope so, I really hope so.” But he later hit back at her comments, saying: “Labour’s Brexit policy is clear. We left the EU, Labor voted for the deal. Now it’s up to all of us to make it work.” David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary and another potential leadership contender, has also backed renewed ties with Brussels. “Of course, if we were in government, there are aspects of our relationship with the European Union that need to be determined,” he told LBC last month.
