BREXIT: Labour is to support the Common Market 2.0 option tonight in the Brexit indicative votes
Labour is to support the common market 2.0 option, which will give a so-called ‘Norway Plus’ option for Brexit in tonight’s indicative votes. MPs will be whipped to vote in favour of Common Market 2.0 option during indicative votes in the House of Commons, as well as other options which the party backed last week.
Such an option is seen by some as a betrayal of the basic principles of Brexit as it retains freedom of movement and involves continuing payments to the EU, crossing several of Theresa May’s ‘red lines’.
The common market 2.0 motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the single market and a “comprehensive customs arrangement” with the EU after Brexit. This will also include the “UK say” on future EU trade deals, and existing arrangements would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.
A Labour spokesman said: “In line with our policy, we’re supporting motions to keep options on the table to prevent a damaging Tory deal or no deal, build consensus across the House to break the deadlock and deliver an outcome that can work for the whole country.”
Politicians will once again take over control of Parliament again today to vote on alternatives to Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
They may have rejected all eight alternatives last week, when the last series of indicative votes were held, with not one single option getting a majority, but it is hoped that MPs might agree on a compromise, with less options to choose from and aree their own deal for Brexit.
Options up for selection include a second referendum or crashing out of the bloc without a deal, but plans such as Common Market 2.0 opt for a ‘softer’ Brexit, which seems the preferred option for a lot of MPs
