Katy Balls Katy Balls

Labour struggles to work out its position on triggering Article 50

What is Labour’s position on triggering Article 50? Four days on from the High Court’s ruling that Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU and confusion reigns.

First, Corbyn suggested Labour could oppose Theresa May’s attempts to trigger Article 50. He said the party would block Article 50 if key demands were not met. Given that these demands included access to the single market, it seemed unlikely the government would be able to meet them — and instead an early election could be on the cards. However, Tom Watson — Labour’s deputy leader — then appeared on the radio where he contradicted Corbyn. Watson insisted Labour would not ‘hold this up’; ‘The British people have spoken and Article 50 will be triggered when it comes to Westminster’.

Now Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, has appeared on Today to try and set the record straight.

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