Labour is charging ahead on its path to rejoin the EU, with fresh comments from the EU’s trade chief Maros Sefcovic saying the government is in talks to push for “dynamic alignment” between the UK and bloc. Yesterday, Sefcovic said the EU would consider Britain joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM), which would include the UK having to comply with common regulations on rules of origin on materials used in manufacturing. The Tories rejected the idea, though now Labour is consulting businesses on the so-called benefits of joining. Something that would come with very high price tag…
Tory MP Alex Burghart asked Europe minister Nick Thomas-Symonds whether he would deny that the government was in talks with the bloc about ‘dynamic realignment’, something that could lead the UK being brought back into the European Court of Justice. Thomas-Symonds refused to answer, instead saying:
“He knows the role of the European Court of Justice in the Windsor framework…we have set out the examples of things we are seeking to negotiate.”
A reminder that Labour’s EU ‘Surrender unit’ is heading up an ‘independent’ Windsor Framework Review’ – a trojan horse for taking the UK back into the EU. Meanwhile Sefcovic also tried to deny that a potential youth movement scheme would represent a return to free movement, rather it was a “bridge-building proposal”. Alarms bells ringing for Brexiteers…
UPDATE: At the Downing Street Lobby briefing the government doesn’t rule out joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention. No 10 says the arrangement isn’t a “customs union” and so doesn’t cross Labour’s ‘red lines.’ Brexit betrayal…
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart is asking Rayner the questions at today’s deputy PMQs. He took a swipe at Reeves over her LinkedIn CV edits:
“First we had above inflation pay rises for the unions, then we had a Budget which the OBR said was going to push up inflation. This morning we had City economists – real economists, Mr Speaker – saying that next year inflation would hit 3%. Does the Right Honourable Lady agree that this government’s decisions mean high inflation for working people?”
Reeves has been looking morose for the proceedings as Rayner bats away criticisms by referencing Truss’ premiership. Questions over her actual career history are not going away…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”