UNPICK BREXIT BID
EU would ‘breathe sigh of relief’ if Labour win election, say top party figures who vow to unpick Brexit
Hilary Benn wants a close relationship between Labour and the EU
TOP Labour figures said the EU would “breathe a sigh of relief” if they are elected, and vowed to unpick the Brexit deal.
Party big beasts promised to cosy up to the EU if Sir Keir Starmer wins.
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London mayor Sadiq Khan said rejoining its customs union should be “on the table” when the Brexit deal is up for renegotiation.
He told the Fabian Society conference in London yesterday: “David Lammy (Shadow Foreign Secretary) is on to something saying we should have a closer relationship.”
Lammy said last year: "The European Union is our number-one priority. It’s our number-one priority because it’s our backyard."
Party frontbencher Hilary Benn added: “There’s no doubt the arrival of a Labour government, if we win . . . will be greeted in the EU with a big, audible sigh of relief.
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“So wouldn’t it make sense to have a closer relationship?”
But Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “Hilary Benn is the high priest of Remainers so it’s no surprise that he wants to tie the UK in as a client state of the European empire.”
'Vicar hug' Labour bid
SIR Keir Starmer has launched a “hug a vicar” charm offensive to try to mobilise the religious vote.
The Labour leader has tasked MPs with forging close links to different faith groups to turn the ties into votes.
A party source said: “He even has the Archbishop of Canterbury’s old speechwriter.”