BRITAIN faces being shackled to EU rules again under a plan hatched by Brussels.
No10 repeatedly refused yesterday to rule out signing up to the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention trade club — saying it will not cross any “red line”.
GettySir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out signing up to the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention trade club[/caption]
PM Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The arrangement that’s been discussed is not a customs union.
“Our red line has always been that we will never join a single market, freedom of movement, but we’re just not going to get ahead of those discussions.”
New EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic pitched the idea of Britain joining up at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week.
The convention — which facilitates tariff-free trade between Europe and parts of the Middle East and North Africa — was turned down by the Tories while in government.
They feared it would surrender Britain’s ability to strike independent trade deals and maintain regulatory autonomy.
But in a further sign Labour is prepared to give away hard-won Brexit freedoms, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas- Symonds has refused to exclude tying Britain to EU rules.
He also failed to guarantee European judges would be kept out of British affairs. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel hit back, saying: “Labour’s programme of bending the knee to the EU is disgraceful.”
She said reports that ministers might “shackle” us to the EU are deeply concerning.
Ms Patel added: “Once again it is clear that Keir Starmer and his chums are all too happy to put their ideology ahead of our national interest, no matter the cost.”
The EU is also continuing to demand access to British fishing waters and freedom of movement for young people on a student scheme.
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