Labour support for single market 'welcome news' for farmers, union says

The Labour party’s support for keeping the UK in the single market and customs union for a transitional period after leaving the EU has been welcomed by a farming union.

Labour announced a dramatic policy shift by backing continued membership of the EU single market beyond March 2019, when Britain leaves the EU, establishing a clear dividing line with the Tories on Brexit for the first time.

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) said Labour were the latest of many bodies to support the union’s view on the need for a "safe" Brexit transition period.

The union said it is welcome news that the need for a "safe" timetable is "sinking in amongst so many."

Writing in The Observer, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer set out Labour's new position, saying that a transitional period was needed to avoid a "cliff edge" for the economy, and that Labour would seek a transitional deal that involved remain in a customs union with the EU and within the single market during a transitional period.

FUW President Glyn Roberts also highlighted his concerns regarding the UK Withdrawal Bill due to be voted upon by Parliament later today (11 September), telling Council members: “On the day of the EU referendum the electorate were asked whether they wanted us to leave or stay in the European Union.

“They were not asked whether we should change the balance of powers between devolved administrations, nor were they asked whether we should leave or stay in the single market or the customs union.”

The need for a safer transition period has also been recognised by many outside the UK.

Last month, former Irish Prime Minister and EU Ambassador to the US John Bruton told a conference that the “…build up of pressure in these negotiations…” could be mitigated by “…lengthening the Treaty based negotiation time line from two years to (say) six years, allowing the UK to remain in the EU until the end of that period.”