LABOUR OUT TORIES THE TORY'S
UK Labour Leader Says There Are No Chances of Return of Free Movement With EUNovember 29, 2022
© Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com
In spite of having supported the idea of keeping the freedom of movement between the United Kingdom and the 27 European Union countries three years ago, the leader of the Labour Party of the UK, Keir Starmer, now claims that the return of the policy is a “red line” for the party he leads.
In an interview for the Mail on Sunday, the Labour leader also ruled out the possibility of introducing a “Swiss-style” deal with the EU, through which the UK would have access to the single market in exchange for opening its borders for EU citizens to move to its territory under facilitated rules.
“A Swiss deal simply wouldn’t work for Britain. We’ll have a stronger trading relationship, and we’ll reduce red tape for British business – but freedom of movement is a red line for me. It was part of the deal of being in the EU, but since we left, I’ve been clear it won’t come back under my government,” Starmer told the Mail.
According to him, the Brexit deal should now be left behind as it is, and Britain should instead “face the future”.
In January 2020, Starmer, who at the time was running to become the leader of the UK Labour Party, had promised that he would manage to keep the freedom of movement with the EU as a part of the Brexit deal.
“I want families to be able to live together, whether that’s in Europe or here … We have to make the case for freedom of movement,” he had said at the time.
Defending Starmer’s new stance regarding the freedom of movement, his spokesperson said that Starmer had supported the freedom of movement during the negotiations, but now that the talks are over, it is completely understandable to leave that issue behind.
The UK signed into law the Immigration Act in November 2020, which later, on December 31, at 11 pm, ended the freedom of movement in the UK for all EU citizens without registered residence.
Soon after, the UK announced a new points-based immigration system for skilled workers from third countries in a bid to fill in the gaps created by the absence of the EU labour force in the UK.
Regarding the Swiss-style trade deal with the EU, over a week ago, UK PM Rishi Sunak has ruled out the chances of such a thing happening, too. Switzerland is also a non-EU country but is part of the borderless Schengen Area, alongside Norway, which is also a non-EU country.
In spite of having supported the idea of keeping the freedom of movement between the United Kingdom and the 27 European Union countries three years ago, the leader of the Labour Party of the UK, Keir Starmer, now claims that the return of the policy is a “red line” for the party he leads.
In an interview for the Mail on Sunday, the Labour leader also ruled out the possibility of introducing a “Swiss-style” deal with the EU, through which the UK would have access to the single market in exchange for opening its borders for EU citizens to move to its territory under facilitated rules.
“A Swiss deal simply wouldn’t work for Britain. We’ll have a stronger trading relationship, and we’ll reduce red tape for British business – but freedom of movement is a red line for me. It was part of the deal of being in the EU, but since we left, I’ve been clear it won’t come back under my government,” Starmer told the Mail.
According to him, the Brexit deal should now be left behind as it is, and Britain should instead “face the future”.
In January 2020, Starmer, who at the time was running to become the leader of the UK Labour Party, had promised that he would manage to keep the freedom of movement with the EU as a part of the Brexit deal.
“I want families to be able to live together, whether that’s in Europe or here … We have to make the case for freedom of movement,” he had said at the time.
Defending Starmer’s new stance regarding the freedom of movement, his spokesperson said that Starmer had supported the freedom of movement during the negotiations, but now that the talks are over, it is completely understandable to leave that issue behind.
The UK signed into law the Immigration Act in November 2020, which later, on December 31, at 11 pm, ended the freedom of movement in the UK for all EU citizens without registered residence.
Soon after, the UK announced a new points-based immigration system for skilled workers from third countries in a bid to fill in the gaps created by the absence of the EU labour force in the UK.
Regarding the Swiss-style trade deal with the EU, over a week ago, UK PM Rishi Sunak has ruled out the chances of such a thing happening, too. Switzerland is also a non-EU country but is part of the borderless Schengen Area, alongside Norway, which is also a non-EU country.
No comments:
Post a Comment