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Labour in disarray over Brexit after Diane Abbott single market claim

Brexit comments: Diane Abbott: PA
Brexit comments: Diane Abbott: PA

Labour was in disarray over Brexit today as Diane Abbott became the third shadow Cabinet minister to undermine Jeremy Corbyn on whether the UK will quit the single market.

The shadow home secretary said her party was not taking any options for Brexit off the table.

She said Labour was open to any means that retained the benefits of the single market and customs union, echoing comments from shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer.

Her intervention came after Mr Corbyn ruled out remaining in the single market and shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said it would be a “disaster” to stay in the customs union.

“The Labour Party made it very clear in its manifesto that it wants a Brexit that puts jobs and the economy first and we are not at this stage taking any options off the table,” Ms Abbott told BBC Two’s Newsnight.

“We believe in looking at where we want to go, and what we want from these negotiations when we’re conducting them is to have the benefits of being in the single market and customs union. We’re about looking at ends, not structures.”