ES Views Letter of the Day: Infighting poses a big threat to Brexit

Have your say Twitter: @esviews Email: esviews@standard.co.uk

Brexit: The row comes as Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the Commons on the recent EU summit

AFP/Getty Images

30 October 2017

For months we were told by some of the most extreme voices in Theresa May’s party that leaving the EU would be easy. That striking a new trade deal was going to be straightforward. How wrong they were.

Nearly seven months since the triggering of Article 50, fantasy has met reality. Progress in the talks has stalled and the prospect of no deal is back on the table.

The Brexit talks were always going to require compromise but the situation has been made worse by infighting in the Government. Tory splits are so bad that Mrs May has delayed a Cabinet discussion on future EU trade until the New Year. At a time when London businesses are queuing up to say how worried they are, it is irresponsible to put off crucial discussions because of internal party politics.

Businesses need certainty that we won’t crash out of Europe in March 2019 and transitional arrangements are put in place to keep us on the same terms as we have now, including in a customs union and the single market.

The sooner ministers confront the realities of the situation, the better.
Keir Starmer, Shadow Brexit Secretary