News / Politics

UK Labour leader vows to go ahead with Brexit if elected

Saturday, 22 December 2018 5:24 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 22 December 2018 5:28 PM ]

British Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn is shown in this December 7, 2018 file photo. (AFP photo)

Leader of Britain’s main opposition party Labour Party has rejected the idea of a second vote on the country’s withdrawal from the European Union, saying Labour would go ahead with Brexit if it wins a potential snap election meant to end the current political uncertainty.

Corbyn said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper on Saturday that the Labour would prefer to respect the choice of the British people who voted for leaving the EU in a referendum in June 2016.

The 69-year-old Socialist, who faces divides in his party over Brexit, said the best option for a Labour government, if elected to power in early elections, would be to return to Brussels and seek a renegotiation of Brexit deal signed by current Conservative-led government.

“You’d have to go back and negotiate, and see what the timetable would be,” said Corbyn, making a reference to the current schedule for Britain’s exit from the EU, which is March 29, 2019.

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While reiterating his criticism of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal with the EU, Corbyn said his preference for a future relationship with the EU that could satisfy the British voters would be to establish a separate customs union with the bloc with the aim of facilitating trade after Brexit.

“it would be a matter for the party to decide what the policy would be; but my proposal at this moment is that we go forward, trying to get a customs union with the EU, in which we would be able to be proper trading partners” he said.

Corbyn has indicated he and many of his supporters would reject May’s Brexit deal when it comes for a vote in the British parliament in mid-January.

May and members of her ruling party have accused Corbyn of playing party politics with the Brexit deal vote in parliament, saying he ultimately seeks early elections to be able to ascend to power.

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