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Corbyn: May's plan threatens 'a bargain basement Brexit'

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Theresa May to "stop her threat of a bargain basement Brexit" during exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions.

The Labour leader also criticised Mrs May for delivering her key Brexit speech away from the Commons, labeling her "not so much the Iron Lady as the Irony Lady" for "sidelining Parliament" while claiming to restore parliamentary democracy.

Mrs May accused Mr Corbyn of "not having a clue" over Brexit as she faced pressure to reveal if Britain will pay for single market access.

The prime minister refused to be drawn on whether payments would be required after the UK withdraws from the bloc despite the Labour leader repeatedly raising the issue.

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Unions call on PM not to appease 'Brexit headbangers'

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis all called for Britain's exit from the EU. Credit: PA

Theresa May will send "shockwaves" around factories and shopfloors and put millions of jobs in jeopardy if she looks to "appease the hard right" with her Brexit plans, the leader of the UK's biggest trade union has said.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, urged the prime minister not to listen to the "Brexit headbangers" in Cabinet and abandon the single market - the EU trading bloc that demands free movement of people.

Trade unions and others have clearly outlined how real concerns over the freedom of movement can be addressed by sensible labour market safeguards without abandoning the single market when we leave the EU.

Out of the single market, possibly out of the customs union, then investment in core sectors like car manufacturing, chemicals, aerospace, even food manufacturing, will be threatened as companies face hefty on-costs and serious disruption to their supply chains.

– Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said Mrs May must present a plan that ensures "working people don't pay the price" for Brexit amid inevitable market volatility.

Signs that the UK will leave the single market are reducing confidence in the British economy and the falling pound looks likely to keep pushing up prices on everyday goods this year.

The Prime Minister's plan for Brexit today must make sure that wages keep rising, as well as protecting jobs and rights, so that working people don't pay the price for the decision to leave the EU.

– Frances O'Grady, TUC general secretary
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Corbyn: May's plan threatens 'a bargain basement Brexit'

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