An April 25, 2017 photo from files of Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, speaking in London. Britain's main opposition party has announced that it backs the U.K. staying in the European Union single market and customs union during a "transition period" after Brexit.Stefan Rousseau/The Associated Press
Britain's main opposition party announced on Sunday that it backs staying in the European Union's single market and customs union during a "transition period" after Brexit, arguing that would give much-needed certainty to businesses and consumers.
The Labour Party says the ruling Conservative Party's Brexit position – taking Britain out of the EU single market immediately after March, 2019, when Britain formally leaves the bloc – would be "unnecessary" and "a highly risky path to take."
Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, said his party wants Britain to keep abiding by the terms of its current EU membership during a transition period before a final shift to a new Britain-EU relationship. He says that should avoid a "cliff edge" situation for the British economy. He did not specify how long this transition period should last, only that it would be "as short as possible, but as long as is necessary."
"By remaining inside a customs union and the single market in a transitional phase, we would be certain that goods and services could continue to flow between the EU and the U.K. without tariffs, customs checks or additional red tape. There would be no need to set up complex alternative customs or trading relations," he wrote in The Observer newspaper.
Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives agree there should be a "time-limited" transition period after March, 2019. But they have made clear that Britain must be outside the EU single market and customs union during the transition so it can exercise more control over immigration and strike up new trade deals with other countries.
Mr. Starmer added that Labour would leave open the option of Britain remaining a member of the EU customs union and single market for good, though any such deal would have to give Britain more control over immigration.
Officials from Britain and the EU will meet on Monday in Brussels for a new round of Brexit talks.
Britain voted to leave the EU in June, 2016, but did not trigger the formal two-year exit process until this past March.