Sir Keir Starmer

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:00:13. > :00:20.Thanks very much I'll try and live up to that billing, now,

:00:21. > :00:23.and thank you all for coming this morning and being with

:00:24. > :00:28.As Jenny has said, at this election there will be a clear choice

:00:29. > :00:36.on the ballot paper, two visions of Brexit.

:00:37. > :00:40.Labour's approach, which is going to be based on our values,

:00:41. > :00:45.Because, they are values of internationalism,

:00:46. > :00:48.of being outward looking, of a belief that we achieve more

:00:49. > :00:59.A fundamental belief that internationally we should face

:01:00. > :01:04.challenges together with other countries and take advantages and

:01:05. > :01:12.Now, as Jenny said, we accept that things will have to change,

:01:13. > :01:18.our relationship with the EU is going to change, but we do not

:01:19. > :01:22.accept, we do not accept, that Brexit has to mean what ever

:01:23. > :01:32.We do not accept that there has to be a reckless Tory Brexit.

:01:33. > :01:46.And that is a fundamental issue in this election,

:01:47. > :01:48.it is a fundamental issue for everyone who will be voting.

:01:49. > :01:52.We do not believe that if you are a citizen of the world,

:01:53. > :01:55.Of course we recognise and accept that immigration rules

:01:56. > :01:58.are going to have to change when we leave the EU,

:01:59. > :02:00.let me say that again, we accept that immigration rules

:02:01. > :02:03.are going to have to change when we leave the EU.

:02:04. > :02:07.But, we don't accept that immigration should be the only

:02:08. > :02:12.overarching priority, the only red line.

:02:13. > :02:16.Nor do we believe that leaving the EU means that we have to sever

:02:17. > :02:31.That Brexit means weakening workers' rights, environmental protections,

:02:32. > :02:33.or that it must entail slashing corporate taxes.

:02:34. > :02:36.We have a very different vision, a vision about how Brexit can work

:02:37. > :02:45.And at its heart is a belief that we need to build a close,

:02:46. > :02:54.collaborative future relationship with the EU,

:02:55. > :02:55.a changed relationship, but a relationship.

:02:56. > :02:56.And collaborative future relationship.

:02:57. > :03:05.Not members, of course, but genuine going forward.

:03:06. > :03:09.Where jobs, the economy and retaining the benefits

:03:10. > :03:11.of the Single Market and the Customs Union

:03:12. > :03:15.Where hard-fought workplace rights and the environment

:03:16. > :03:25.Where we are truly an open, outward looking country.

:03:26. > :03:28.Where EU nationals living here are guaranteed their rights

:03:29. > :03:34.and can live in certainty that Brexit will not affect them.

:03:35. > :03:38.A Brexit that brings the country together,

:03:39. > :03:42.radically devolves power and supports all regions

:03:43. > :03:51.That's the approach to Brexit I will set out today.

:03:52. > :03:54.But let me deal with this head-on, and summarise the key differences.

:03:55. > :03:58.The Prime Minister has adopted an ideologically approached view of

:03:59. > :04:03.It has led her down a slippery slope,

:04:04. > :04:06.nothing to do with the single market, nothing to do with the

:04:07. > :04:12.customs union, nothing to do with the European Court or any court.

:04:13. > :04:20.Nothing to do with the very many agencies that do such fantastic

:04:21. > :04:23.collaborative work that is so important to all of us.

:04:24. > :04:26.Out of all of those an approach that has led to

:04:27. > :04:31.collaborative work that is so important to all of us.

:04:32. > :04:35.It means taken option at that option off the table at the beginning of

:04:36. > :04:42.Talking up no deal as if that is acceptable, some

:04:43. > :04:47.people say, that is a clear approach, it is a rigid approach, it

:04:48. > :04:51.is removing options before we have started and It's

:04:52. > :05:01.What Labour will do is to scrap the Brexit white paper.

:05:02. > :05:06.And draw up new negotiating objectives.

:05:07. > :05:09.We will on day one unilaterally guarantee the

:05:10. > :05:14.rights of EU citizens in this country.

:05:15. > :05:22.And of course fight for the right of UK citizens across

:05:23. > :05:37.We will scrap the Great Repeal Bill and replace it with what

:05:38. > :05:39.it should be, an EU rights and protections Bill.

:05:40. > :05:42.We will give a proper role to Parliament in the

:05:43. > :05:44.process, not sideline it and treat all challenge

:05:45. > :05:50.We will, of course, rebuild Britain by investing in people in a future

:05:51. > :06:01.So, let me deal first with the white paper, the

:06:02. > :06:09.Labour s White Paper will have a strong emphasis

:06:10. > :06:15.on retaining the benefits of the single market

:06:16. > :06:18.and the customs union as we know that is vital to protecting jobs

:06:19. > :06:22.Our White Paper will make clear that jobs and the economy are Labour s

:06:23. > :06:26.That means we will seek, continued tariff-free trade

:06:27. > :06:43.between the UK and the EU, no new non-tariff burdens

:06:44. > :06:46.we will ensure regulatory alignment and continued competitiveness

:06:47. > :07:01.Retaining the all important threshold of

:07:02. > :07:05.workplace rights so there is no race to the bottom, as we go forward.

:07:06. > :07:13.I have been all over the country talking to businesses large and

:07:14. > :07:16.small, communities large and small, trade unionists and all of them sing

:07:17. > :07:19.with one voice on the need for these benefits to be the central part of

:07:20. > :07:26.Whether this is best achieved through reformed membership

:07:27. > :07:28.of the single market and the customs union

:07:29. > :07:30.or via a bespoke trading arrangement is secondary to the outcome.

:07:31. > :07:32.What matters for jobs, the economy and living standards

:07:33. > :07:35.is that we retain the benefits that really matter.

:07:36. > :07:37.And let me tell you this, what cannot be negotiated,

:07:38. > :07:40.because these negotiations are not going to be easy, what cannot be

:07:41. > :07:47.negotiated, we will replicate back here in the UK.

:07:48. > :07:49.Let me give you an example, regulartory and

:07:50. > :07:54.alignment, we will fight hard fight hard

:07:55. > :07:56.and the people who work in those businesses

:07:57. > :08:06.the future the way they have succeeded in the past.

:08:07. > :08:15.And if we cannot get the repertory alignment may need through

:08:16. > :08:20.negotiations in Brussels, we will achieve it at home through primary

:08:21. > :08:24.legislation. If there is any issue an workplace right we will achieve

:08:25. > :08:29.it back home through primary legislation. What matters is when

:08:30. > :08:33.the end package is met, we have met the commitment of the same benefits

:08:34. > :08:41.of the single market and the customs union. They are so important. That

:08:42. > :08:46.means we need to focus, not on hypothetical trade deals with other

:08:47. > :08:51.countries, but Armstrong trading arrangements with the U. After all,

:08:52. > :08:59.the you account for 44% of our exports.

:09:00. > :09:02.It is by far and away our most important trading partner.

:09:03. > :09:05.It is extraordinary that we have a Prime Minister who has given up

:09:06. > :09:07.on the Single Market and the Customs Union even before

:09:08. > :09:09.negotiations have begun, but is so willing to talk up

:09:10. > :09:11.the chance of there being no deal reached.

:09:12. > :09:23.And it was received very badly by our EU neighbours. She has spoken

:09:24. > :09:26.up, talk. , the chances of no deal being reached. She said repeatedly

:09:27. > :09:34.that no deal is better than a bad deal. No deal is better than a bad

:09:35. > :09:39.deal? Labour are very clear that no deal is the worst possible deal. It

:09:40. > :09:44.would cause huge damage to our businesses and to our trade. The

:09:45. > :09:53.examples just make that absolutely clear, parrots, of 30 to 40% on

:09:54. > :10:01.dairy, and meat products. -- parrots of 30 to 40%. 10% on cards and loss

:10:02. > :10:05.of transporting right. When I was with Vauxhall yesterday the anxiety

:10:06. > :10:10.about that outcome is etched on the face of everyone who works the and

:10:11. > :10:17.in so many of our other businesses across the country. No wonder the

:10:18. > :10:23.CBI are calling it a recipe for chaos. A labour approach would end

:10:24. > :10:27.this reckless approach. We will be clear, we need to negotiate strong

:10:28. > :10:33.transitional arrangements as we leave the EU and ensure that there

:10:34. > :10:38.is no cliff edge for our, me. Reject no deal as a viable option and

:10:39. > :10:47.introduce and fight for transitional arrangements from the start. We will

:10:48. > :10:55.also approach the task differently. Theresa May wants to close down

:10:56. > :11:02.scrutiny and to challenge, in truth that lies partly behind her decision

:11:03. > :11:08.to call an election. The idea that she should be challenged or question

:11:09. > :11:14.in Parliament in a meaningful way is something she will not have. She

:11:15. > :11:20.wants to knock that out of the way. Everyone knows that strong leaders

:11:21. > :11:23.and strong decisions welcome scrutiny and accountability, welcome

:11:24. > :11:30.challenge. That is how we arrive at the right decisions. These decisions

:11:31. > :11:34.are so important we cannot duck this issue. So, Labour will take a

:11:35. > :11:44.different approach working with Parliament not against Parliament,

:11:45. > :11:48.we will legislate to ensure that there is a meaningful vote at the

:11:49. > :11:52.end of the exercise, something that the Prime Minister refuses to do and

:11:53. > :11:55.of course we will insist on regular to Alli regular reporting back

:11:56. > :12:00.throughout the process so we can get the views of Parliament. So we can

:12:01. > :12:05.ensure we are on the right track and make sure that when we get the

:12:06. > :12:08.all-important vote at the end of the exercise Parliament has played its

:12:09. > :12:12.role throughout the process. Of course, we need to work with the

:12:13. > :12:18.devolved administrations to reflect the specific and particular

:12:19. > :12:22.concerns. But, we have to do also be built relations with our EU

:12:23. > :12:25.partners, because they have been damaged by the tone and approach

:12:26. > :12:31.that has been taken so far. Striking a good deal does rely on having

:12:32. > :12:38.alliances across Europe and that is why, as I said at the beginning,

:12:39. > :12:45.what we need is that close, collaborative, future relationship

:12:46. > :12:52.with the EU. Not members, but partners, continued cooperation in

:12:53. > :12:56.all the other fields that matter, technology, science, medicine,

:12:57. > :13:01.counterterrorism, climate change, higher education. So, a Labour

:13:02. > :13:05.government will seek to remain part of the Rasmus schemes so British

:13:06. > :13:11.students have the same cultural and educational opportunities after we

:13:12. > :13:16.leave the EU. -- the main part of the Rasmus scheme. We will stay part

:13:17. > :13:21.of Horizon 2020 at its successor programmes and welcome research

:13:22. > :13:26.staff from the UK, from the EU. We will also seek to maintain

:13:27. > :13:31.membership or equivalent relations with European organisations which

:13:32. > :13:36.are the benefits to the EU such as, the European medicines agency, your

:13:37. > :13:41.poll annually just. The member that part of the Prime Minister's speech

:13:42. > :13:46.when she said you wanted out of all parts of the EU, all parts,

:13:47. > :13:57.including those agencies. I have worked with Europol and other

:13:58. > :14:02.agencies, and I know what they do 20 47 to keep us safe and to simply

:14:03. > :14:05.walk away from those agencies on ideological grounds rather than

:14:06. > :14:10.starting negotiations saying we want to stay in, we want to find a way is

:14:11. > :14:19.fundamentally the wrong approach and we will reverse that. Let me deal

:14:20. > :14:28.with EU nationals, because we will also adopt a new approach, here. It

:14:29. > :14:33.is shameful that the Prime Minister rejected repeated attempts by Labour

:14:34. > :14:37.to resolve this issue before Article 50 was triggered, as a result 3

:14:38. > :14:42.million EU nationals have suffered unnecessary uncertainty as well is

:14:43. > :14:50.the 1.2 million UK citizens living in the EU. It is often said the EU

:14:51. > :15:00.nationals contribute to our society, and so they do, but they are part of

:15:01. > :15:06.our society. They are part of our society and they should not be used

:15:07. > :15:11.as bargaining chips. So, on day one of a Labour government we will

:15:12. > :15:15.immediately guarantee that all EU nationals currently living in the UK

:15:16. > :15:22.will see no change in the legal status as a result of Brexit.

:15:23. > :15:27.That does not mean, as some people like to portray,

:15:28. > :15:30.that we will not fight equally hard for UK citizens in the EU.

:15:31. > :15:47.But we can do that, it is in our gift, it is in our

:15:48. > :15:53.And I genuinely think it will help the chances

:15:54. > :15:55.of a reciprocal arrangement for our citizens across Europe.

:15:56. > :15:57.The strong message to me in discussions across Europe

:15:58. > :16:01.in the last six months has been that an act such as that would be warmly

:16:02. > :16:04.welcomed, and seen as an indication of the sort of relationship

:16:05. > :16:09.And it would unblock a blockage which this Prime Minister cannot

:16:10. > :16:13.guarantee will be resolved within the two years.

:16:14. > :16:28.We will guarantee it, we will do it, and we will do it on day one.

:16:29. > :16:31.There could be no clearer signal that the Labour party wants a closer

:16:32. > :16:32.clarity of relationship with our EU partners.

:16:33. > :16:35.I can assure you that will be in our manifesto.

:16:36. > :16:38.And we will also set out further detail how we will reset

:16:39. > :16:49.Firstly, we will drop the Tories' Great Repeal Bill.

:16:50. > :16:52.The EU has had a huge impact, as all of you know, of securing

:16:53. > :16:53.workplace protections and environmental standards,

:16:54. > :17:03.That was one the main reasons Labour and trade union movement

:17:04. > :17:07.I made that argument up and down the country

:17:08. > :17:18.But we all know, because we were there in the campaign,

:17:19. > :17:21.that for many Brexiteers in the Tory Party, this was why

:17:22. > :17:32.It's why Priti Patel ? now in the Cabinet ? spoke

:17:33. > :17:36.during the referendum of wanting to, in her words, 'halve the burdens

:17:37. > :17:37.'of EU social and employment legislation.' 'Halve

:17:38. > :17:49.Now, let's be honest about the selection,

:17:50. > :17:52.Now, let's be honest about this election,

:17:53. > :17:55.if a Tory government is returned with a majority they will not be

:17:56. > :17:58.able to resist the temptation to water down and remove these vital

:17:59. > :18:01.rights when they get the first opportunity to do so.

:18:02. > :18:08.We do not consider these rights and protections as 'burdens'

:18:09. > :18:10.or accept there should be any weakening of these

:18:11. > :18:19.So instead of the Great Repeal Bill we will introduce an EU Rights

:18:20. > :18:33.That will make sure that all the rights that we enjoy in this

:18:34. > :18:36.country because of our membership of the EU -

:18:37. > :18:37.workplace rights, consumer rights and environmental

:18:38. > :18:42.are fully protected in our law without qualification,

:18:43. > :18:51.without limitations and without sunset clauses.

:18:52. > :18:53.A Labour approach to Brexit will ensure there can be no

:18:54. > :18:55.rolling back of these key rights and protections.

:18:56. > :18:59.And we will go further, because simply protecting the rights

:19:00. > :19:02.and protections we have got can never be the height of ambition

:19:03. > :19:10.So we will work with EU partners, trade unions and businesses

:19:11. > :19:15.to ensure that, outside the EU, the UK does not lag behind

:19:16. > :19:21.Europe in these rights and protections as we go forward.

:19:22. > :19:25.There can be no space, no gap left for a race to the bottom.

:19:26. > :19:29.The unhooking, unhinging and allowing for lower

:19:30. > :19:33.standards in this country that there will be across Europe.

:19:34. > :19:38.That brings me to another commitment that we will have in our manifesto.

:19:39. > :19:44.A presumption that any devolved powers that are transferred back

:19:45. > :19:49.from Brussels should go straight to the relevant devolved body.

:19:50. > :19:58.There will be no power grab in Whitehall.

:19:59. > :20:00.This will apply to regional government across England,

:20:01. > :20:02.as well as to the devolved administrations in Scotland,

:20:03. > :20:05.This was a proposal included by the Mayor of London

:20:06. > :20:08.in his Brexit White Paper and it is one that a Labour

:20:09. > :20:13.A Labour approach will be part of a radical extension

:20:14. > :20:20.of devolution, and will help bring the country together.

:20:21. > :20:25.The Brexit deal, getting the right deal, getting the right arrangements

:20:26. > :20:30.for our country internationally is only half of the story.

:20:31. > :20:34.We have to understand what lay beneath the vote

:20:35. > :20:44.And what and why people were asking us to change, as Jenny said.

:20:45. > :20:48.Labour's approach to Brexit will also contribute to how

:20:49. > :20:51.we rebuild a fairer, more progressive country.

:20:52. > :20:57.The debate over Brexit is not happening in a vacuum.

:20:58. > :21:02.It will be shaped by the approach the Government that you elect takes

:21:03. > :21:05.to a whole range of wider issues ? security, taxation, public services,

:21:06. > :21:14.We need a Labour government that will deliver a real living way,

:21:15. > :21:17.We need a Labour government that will deliver a real living wage,

:21:18. > :21:20.give a pay rise to 5 million people, will invest in public services,

:21:21. > :21:23.and I know, having run a public service for five years,

:21:24. > :21:25.how much we need to invest in our public services,

:21:26. > :21:31.Invest in the NHS, and invest in our schools, that has to be part

:21:32. > :21:39.The right deal and the domestic dealing with the issues that

:21:40. > :21:43.are there for us to deal with in this election.

:21:44. > :21:49.That is the choice on the ballot paper at this election.

:21:50. > :21:52.If Theresa May gets another five years in power she will take it

:21:53. > :21:55.as a green light to sideline Parliament, ignore

:21:56. > :21:58.opposition and drive through a reckless Tory Brexit.

:21:59. > :22:10.She will isolate us from our nearest partners and strike trade deals

:22:11. > :22:12.with any country that will talk to us, no matter what

:22:13. > :22:14.the consequences for workers right, environmental protections,

:22:15. > :22:22.The only way to stop that and to build a fairer Britain

:22:23. > :22:26.A Labour government that will reset our approach to Brexit,

:22:27. > :22:29.rebuild relations with the EU and make sure that jobs,

:22:30. > :22:34.We have just over six weeks to make that case,

:22:35. > :23:05.Now we will take some questions and I will do four or five

:23:06. > :23:08.from the front three rows which is the press and then open it

:23:09. > :23:14.Keir Starmer has a brain the size of China and this is your time

:23:15. > :23:17.to pick it so people at the back, get your questions ready.

:23:18. > :23:21.BBC News, you have spoken of reformed

:23:22. > :23:28.membership of the EU and reformed membership of the customs union,

:23:29. > :23:34.does that mean of workers that keeping some form of free movement

:23:35. > :23:37.of workers or giving up the right to make trade deals will be a price

:23:38. > :23:40.worth paying for what you say would be a good deal?

:23:41. > :23:43.Would that, do you think, attract or put off votes for Labour?

:23:44. > :23:49.On freedom of movement I have been absolutely clear,

:23:50. > :23:51.freedom of movement will have to end as we leave the EU.

:23:52. > :23:54.It's an EU rule and law, and it ends as we leave.

:23:55. > :23:58.And we negotiate on the understanding that the rules

:23:59. > :24:06.That is the basis of the negotiations and that has to be

:24:07. > :24:14.the approach to the single market and the customs union.

:24:15. > :24:18.That is why I have said what we need to focus on is not the form,

:24:19. > :24:21.but the function, what we need to get out of this?

:24:22. > :24:23.It will have to involve negotiations on freedom of movement.

:24:24. > :24:26.The point I am really trying to make is this,

:24:27. > :24:29.what we should do at the outset is make sure we have got

:24:30. > :24:31.options on the table, not take options off the table,

:24:32. > :24:34.and the customs union is a classic example of this.

:24:35. > :24:36.There is anxiety across the manufacturing sector

:24:37. > :24:40.about the impact of simply walking away from the customs union.

:24:41. > :24:49.It may be in a year or two years that doesn't work,

:24:50. > :24:52.but why take options off the table before you have even

:24:53. > :24:56.Let me be clear, that does not involve unreformed membership

:24:57. > :25:00.of the single market, which carried with it

:25:01. > :25:06.the freedom of movement, which we accept, fully accept,

:25:07. > :25:11.So it might be worth giving up the right to do free trade deals

:25:12. > :25:14.around the world for the sake of a good deal

:25:15. > :25:18.We need to leave the option on the table, we need to get

:25:19. > :25:21.the right deal with the EU and we need to recognise that 44%

:25:22. > :25:28.of our trade is with the EU and that is I am not saying,

:25:29. > :25:31.and we are talking about the opening stance, not where we end up,

:25:32. > :25:33.but the opening stance, any sensible negotiations start

:25:34. > :25:36.by leaving the maximum number of options on the table

:25:37. > :25:40.Rigidity and recklessness is the government's approach.

:25:41. > :25:43.What we need is smart and flexible, and that has been ruled

:25:44. > :25:55.You say you do not want a second referendum but,

:25:56. > :26:00.if you do come back from Europe without a deal or if, indeed,

:26:01. > :26:05.MPs reject your deal, are there circumstances

:26:06. > :26:12.in which you would hold a second referendum?

:26:13. > :26:19.A 2-part answer to that. The whole point of ensuring -- Leu Parliament

:26:20. > :26:22.in that process is to ensure that Parliament has had its say and can

:26:23. > :26:25.influence what is going on and we don't want to be in the position of

:26:26. > :26:29.no Deal or Parliament not having confidence in the deal we return,

:26:30. > :26:34.and that is really important and that is how the European Parliament

:26:35. > :26:38.is approaching this, involving MEPs so there is confidence in the final

:26:39. > :26:41.decision. The difficulty with the argument about a second referendum

:26:42. > :26:46.is back conceptually it says, compare what we have now with the

:26:47. > :26:51.final deal, but on my scenario, the best case for our country is an

:26:52. > :26:55.Article 50 deal, transitional arrangements, probably for two or

:26:56. > :27:01.three years, and therefore a final deal that is seen and understood in

:27:02. > :27:07.probably five or six years' time. At that stage we will have left to the

:27:08. > :27:10.EU three or four years earlier and therefore the second referendum

:27:11. > :27:15.argument simply doesn't hold water. It is even more fundamental than

:27:16. > :27:19.that. As a political party you have to make choices about how you will

:27:20. > :27:23.react to something that you didn't want to happen. I didn't want us to

:27:24. > :27:28.leave the EU. The Labour Party campaign for us to leave but as

:27:29. > :27:32.Jenny said we had a decision and we respect the decision. We have a

:27:33. > :27:35.choice, do we look backwards and try to rub out what happened or do we

:27:36. > :27:38.stand up and face the challenges ahead? I think we must do the second

:27:39. > :27:45.of those and that is what we are doing. You will at a second

:27:46. > :27:53.referendum in any circumstance? Victim Care Unit next question, can

:27:54. > :27:56.we move on. Sky News. Can you clarify a simple question, are you

:27:57. > :27:59.pulling out under a Labour government that Britain can be a

:28:00. > :28:03.member of the European Economic Area, and also one of the first

:28:04. > :28:08.thing that will happen is that the European Commission within weeks of

:28:09. > :28:12.a referendum will come out of a figure for the liabilities of the

:28:13. > :28:18.European Union, are you going to just accepted the of ten or 20 or 30

:28:19. > :28:21.or 50 billion euros? On membership of the single market I have said

:28:22. > :28:27.before and I will say again, as it currently stands the membership of

:28:28. > :28:32.the single market is incompatible with our clarity about the fact that

:28:33. > :28:36.freedom of movement rules have to change. I would want to have a

:28:37. > :28:40.discussion with our partners about what reforms that could be to the

:28:41. > :28:45.single market, other ways of working, in other words, what is the

:28:46. > :28:50.relationship that we can have with the single market. To leave that as

:28:51. > :28:54.a point of discussion. As you will know the EU itself published our

:28:55. > :29:03.white paper in the March setting out five possible models for the EU.

:29:04. > :29:06.There is a big discussion in Europe about what the models are going

:29:07. > :29:09.forward, and I want us to be part of those discussions and not ruled out

:29:10. > :29:12.from afar but I don't want any lack of clarity. As it currently stands,

:29:13. > :29:16.because we are members of the single market and we are EU countries, then

:29:17. > :29:22.that is not an option from the outset. On the money, let me... Of

:29:23. > :29:28.course, any incoming Labour government would negotiate the

:29:29. > :29:34.liabilities on behalf of our people, on behalf of our country. I think it

:29:35. > :29:39.will be the worst of all outcomes if the summer is spent Dahmer sated --

:29:40. > :29:45.dominated by big sums of money being batted backwards and forwards. What

:29:46. > :29:49.we need to be is grown up and say let's negotiate the principles that

:29:50. > :29:53.under pinned the sum, what is the money for an on what basis must it

:29:54. > :29:56.be played -- paid? And then we will be clear that we are a country that

:29:57. > :30:01.honours are international obligations and that is not just a

:30:02. > :30:04.backward looking exercise, it is of former -- forward-looking exercise.

:30:05. > :30:07.If we want a really good deal with the EU go forward and we want to

:30:08. > :30:11.contemplate free-trade agreements across the world the last thing we

:30:12. > :30:14.want to do is to be held up as a country that doesn't comply with its

:30:15. > :30:16.international obligations because that will damage our ability to get

:30:17. > :30:20.decent deals in the future. But, principles first,

:30:21. > :30:21.one of the principles is the liability has to be properly

:30:22. > :30:24.worked out according to principles that we negotiate and agree with,

:30:25. > :30:26.but also the principle that we will honour

:30:27. > :30:28.international obligations. Hi, Steve Hawkes at The Sun,

:30:29. > :30:40.can I just ask you to imagine, Jeremy Corbyn wins the election,

:30:41. > :30:45.March the 29th 2019, MPs for one reason or another have

:30:46. > :30:48.rejected the deal that you have brought back from

:30:49. > :30:51.Brussels, what happens? Do we leave an WTO terms or do

:30:52. > :30:54.you seek an extinction that keeps First and foremost, I think

:30:55. > :31:01.it is really important if there is going to be a vote

:31:02. > :31:05.in Parliament, that it is in that it is in the autumn of 2018,

:31:06. > :31:08.so it is not at the last minute and gives the opportunity for

:31:09. > :31:12.negotiators to go back to the table, and when we are dealing with some

:31:13. > :31:17.as important as this country, I think it is important that any

:31:18. > :31:24.Prime Minister to say, "One, I want to build

:31:25. > :31:26.confidence for what I'm going to put before Parliament

:31:27. > :31:29.and if when there is still time to do so, I can go back,

:31:30. > :31:32.they will go back, rather than doggedly saying take

:31:33. > :31:34.the deal or leave it." Take the deal or leave

:31:35. > :31:37.it is a political choice it doesn't have to be that way,

:31:38. > :31:39.and so the timing Of course there will be limits

:31:40. > :31:46.to how often one can go back, there will have to be an end point,

:31:47. > :31:50.if the first vote, in the autumn of 2018 is a rejection vote,

:31:51. > :31:52.of course any responsible government would then have to draw up

:31:53. > :31:55.contingency and emergency measures to make sure that if there is no

:31:56. > :31:58.deal at the end of the exercise, we have provisions in place to deal

:31:59. > :32:01.with that, because that'll be Would that be then extending EU

:32:02. > :32:07.membership for six months, a year, Ideally we would go

:32:08. > :32:14.on to transitional arrangements while we thrash through the rest

:32:15. > :32:16.of negotiations, that would be the ideal scenario,

:32:17. > :32:19.and that is what going back But, in the event that all of that

:32:20. > :32:29.failed we would have to have contingency plans and emergency

:32:30. > :32:31.plans here to deal with the cliff edge scenario,

:32:32. > :32:34.because that is what businesses want and they are saying it up

:32:35. > :32:37.and down the country, contingency measures in those

:32:38. > :32:39.circumstances, but we will not arrive at that place,

:32:40. > :32:41.because of the way that we will conduct the negotiations

:32:42. > :32:47.and what we seek to achieve. Thanks so much, Channel 5 news,

:32:48. > :32:57.you say that on day one you would give EU citizens

:32:58. > :33:09.here all the rights that they enjoy, but you would then fight

:33:10. > :33:12.just as hard or as hard as anyone else to get rights

:33:13. > :33:14.were British citizens in the rest of the EU,

:33:15. > :33:17.but by definition you have already given up one

:33:18. > :33:19.of your strongest cards in that, so you would not be able

:33:20. > :33:22.to fight as hard, would you, when you've given up

:33:23. > :33:25.to the European Union's side a vital part of the negotiating

:33:26. > :33:26.strength your part. The way you have just

:33:27. > :33:29.described it is to use people as bargaining chips,

:33:30. > :33:33.as a card, we went to the right thing by EU citizens

:33:34. > :33:36.here because we want to hold that as a threat to the EU nations,

:33:37. > :33:42.and that is to hold a group It is the classic example

:33:43. > :33:52.of a bargaining chip. The government says it is not

:33:53. > :33:56.interesting in bargaining chips, but if that is the approach that is a

:33:57. > :33:59.bargaining approach and we would not do that, we would unilaterally

:34:00. > :34:04.guaranteed those rights. APPLAUSE

:34:05. > :34:11.I am convinced, absolutely convinced that that gesture would unlock this

:34:12. > :34:15.impasse and guarantee the citizens, across the EU, exactly the same

:34:16. > :34:19.rights. I'm convinced it would unlock the impasse. It would not be

:34:20. > :34:23.seen as a sign of weakness? If we don't do it, the Prime Minister says

:34:24. > :34:28.it will be a priority incidents David Davis and I do not doubt that.

:34:29. > :34:31.But, they cannot guarantee that. There is a saying in Europe but

:34:32. > :34:36.nothing is agreed to everything is agreed could face the prospect, if

:34:37. > :34:40.we do not take unilateral action of EU citizens not truly knowing the

:34:41. > :34:45.position for another two years. That is not the right thing to do. OK we

:34:46. > :34:56.have another ten minutes so we will open up, yes gentlemen with his hand

:34:57. > :35:01.raised. Thank you. Thank you for the presentation, I think we welcome it

:35:02. > :35:07.very much indeed. The Conservatives do not have any role model of a hard

:35:08. > :35:16.Brexit agreement 2.2, we do have a country within Europe that does have

:35:17. > :35:22.most of the advantages of the EU with out being a member, Norway.

:35:23. > :35:26.From my experience they have had a good constructive relationship and I

:35:27. > :35:34.hope this will be taken into account in our examination in our plans.

:35:35. > :35:37.There is a lot said about the Norway model, the longer the shorter bit is

:35:38. > :35:43.that Norway negotiated a model that for them. I do not think it works in

:35:44. > :35:47.any country to seek the go shoot a model based on what worked for

:35:48. > :35:53.another country. We have to negotiate on what works for the UK

:35:54. > :35:58.and to ensure that the final UK, EU arrangement, is one that works for

:35:59. > :36:12.us and safeguards the interests and protects the interests that I have

:36:13. > :36:17.outlined. Yes. Thank you. Chair of Labour business, the party's

:36:18. > :36:22.affiliated business group. I think our members will welcome your

:36:23. > :36:26.emphasis on jobs, the economy, and shared prosperity of the touchstone

:36:27. > :36:30.of these negotiations, they will welcome that. Thank you for making

:36:31. > :36:35.it so clear. Our members would also want to ask, and perhaps give you

:36:36. > :36:41.the opportunity to say how you would address the concern about managed

:36:42. > :36:48.migration, because as you know many businesses in the UK do not depend

:36:49. > :36:52.on EU migration to fulfil jobs that are not filled locally. We might

:36:53. > :36:55.want them to be filled locally, but they are not currently filled, so

:36:56. > :36:59.could you take this opportunity to tell us how you would see managed

:37:00. > :37:06.migration going forward from the EU and non-EU countries? Thank you. I

:37:07. > :37:10.repeat, again, the immigration rules will have to change when we leave

:37:11. > :37:15.the EU and freedom of movement will not be a will that is operated any

:37:16. > :37:20.longer. Which opens up the question of what will go in its place. In

:37:21. > :37:28.answering that question is very important to strip away different

:37:29. > :37:30.forms of immigration is, so refugees are owed international education is

:37:31. > :37:34.by our company and every other country that signed the relevant

:37:35. > :37:38.provisions and we have to deal with them in accordance to those

:37:39. > :37:42.international obligations. I do not think international student should

:37:43. > :37:45.be in numbers of immigrants, I think we should welcome them to the

:37:46. > :37:49.country to come and study here and be part of the country and to take

:37:50. > :37:52.the education back to the country of origin and hopefully work with

:37:53. > :37:57.others in the future. So, I would separate those out that leaves

:37:58. > :38:01.family immigration where we have those banana EU nationals and of

:38:02. > :38:07.course work. So far as work is concerned I think we have do say

:38:08. > :38:11.managed migration system that is premised on what works for the

:38:12. > :38:14.economy and works for our communities. I think we have to be

:38:15. > :38:20.honest enough to except that the referendum result was largely a

:38:21. > :38:25.result of concerns about freedom of movement and we have to listen to

:38:26. > :38:28.that, so it has to work for the economy and communities and that

:38:29. > :38:31.means we have to have a discussion with businesses about what their

:38:32. > :38:34.needs are and how they are to be managed. The last thing we want is

:38:35. > :38:37.for businesses to not be able to conduct their businesses

:38:38. > :38:40.successfully in the future but we also have to listen to what people

:38:41. > :38:49.are telling is about immigration and getting that part right is essential

:38:50. > :38:54.as we go forward. Because the microphone is here, the gentleman

:38:55. > :38:57.behind you and I'll come over here. Brett of builders merchants

:38:58. > :39:01.Federation, you have talked about free trade and customs arrangement

:39:02. > :39:08.which I thank you but my question relates to non-power the barriers,

:39:09. > :39:12.the question is if the HMRC got a big enough computer to deal with

:39:13. > :39:17.thousands and millions more customs declarations, leaving the EU means

:39:18. > :39:21.no VAT but paying VAT on imports so my question is as someone, you won a

:39:22. > :39:27.public service, what will a Labour government do to help businesses,

:39:28. > :39:35.HMRC and critically Port authorities, so we do not see

:39:36. > :39:41.operation Stack in Dover, lorries parking on Kentish roads replicated

:39:42. > :39:49.in other towns in Kent. First of all we will negotiate said that there

:39:50. > :39:54.are no new custom buttons. That is important. Second, make it clear

:39:55. > :39:57.that no deal is not a viable option, because no deal means no

:39:58. > :40:03.arrangements in place in March 2019 to deal with these changes, anyone

:40:04. > :40:07.who knows anything about customs knows it will be impossible to put

:40:08. > :40:11.in place the necessary arrangements within a two-year period, so,

:40:12. > :40:15.leaving with no deal is not a your trading issue it is a practical

:40:16. > :40:18.customs issue and that is why committing to no deal and not doing

:40:19. > :40:21.as Boris Johnson and others do is to say it is a relaxed situation to

:40:22. > :40:26.find ourselves in and being clear that we need transitional measures.

:40:27. > :40:31.It is not just customs, in my wealth of criminal justice the idea of

:40:32. > :40:35.leaving without an agreement that allows others to continue to use and

:40:36. > :40:39.access the criminal justice tools that we have got is something that

:40:40. > :40:43.anyone involved in the field is an thinkable. We have to be clear about

:40:44. > :40:47.that and we have to have a discussion with business about how

:40:48. > :40:51.we make this work for you in a way that reduces the burden on you. And

:40:52. > :40:56.we have to involve businesses from the start. Most businesses are

:40:57. > :41:00.saying to me that it is the uncertainty that is causing them the

:41:01. > :41:03.greatest anxiety. But if they knew there was a genuine commitment to

:41:04. > :41:06.transitional measures it would help them great deal in future planning

:41:07. > :41:09.because they have to decide whether they will put in place customs

:41:10. > :41:18.arrangements in two years or five years. They to answering your

:41:19. > :41:22.question. Yes, this gentleman here. I think this question leads on from

:41:23. > :41:30.what you have just been saying and puts it in a wider context. I'm

:41:31. > :41:34.Stephen Hopman, as you know. One of the effects of leaving the EU is

:41:35. > :41:39.clearly going to beat the all the obligations which the EU, its member

:41:40. > :41:44.states and its citizens over to us are going to come to an end at least

:41:45. > :41:49.the formal, legal obligations, would you agree that the collaborative

:41:50. > :41:53.approach which is the key element in your presentation is going to be

:41:54. > :41:57.absolutely necessary, it is a precondition of enabling those

:41:58. > :42:01.obligations to survive in some form for the benefit of the people of

:42:02. > :42:06.this country, otherwise we will simply be adrift? Weight I could not

:42:07. > :42:13.agree more which is why no deal, severing all relations and leaving

:42:14. > :42:19.those rights and obligations hounding is a very, very bad case

:42:20. > :42:21.scenario. -- and leaving those obligations hanging. That is why a

:42:22. > :42:26.Labour government will save the outset that it is not a viable

:42:27. > :42:29.option, we need have a meaningful and collaborative relationship in

:42:30. > :42:33.which rights and obligations are understood and respected as we go

:42:34. > :42:38.forward because your web is our main trading partner and of course the EU

:42:39. > :42:41.countries other countries that we do the most collaboration and

:42:42. > :42:45.co-operative work with and we need to have the framework within which

:42:46. > :42:51.that all pics place. That is not to say that we do not leave as members

:42:52. > :42:56.of the EU, it is to say that we draw up a partnership which is not

:42:57. > :42:59.membership, which allows those arrangements to continue in place.

:43:00. > :43:02.We will have two more questions starting with the ladies in the very

:43:03. > :43:10.eye-catching dress of the fund, here. -- with the very eye-catching

:43:11. > :43:19.dress at the front. I am concerned with the environmental impact, there

:43:20. > :43:23.is negotiations and discussions about the pollution. I wonder what

:43:24. > :43:32.you are thinking about after we left how we will negotiate those,

:43:33. > :43:38.especially the own renewable energy markets, it is our biggest income

:43:39. > :43:46.and it is dropped over 30,000 jobs, this might lead more job cuts in the

:43:47. > :43:50.UK. I want to know how we can look at that. Briefly, the Mariah Mint is

:43:51. > :43:54.one of the areas where a lot of the standards that we apply with.

:43:55. > :44:03.# Briefly, In my constituency we have a

:44:04. > :44:08.pollution issues, as we do across other parts of London and UK. The

:44:09. > :44:12.standards we apply compound the EU and as we on Hitch bombing it is

:44:13. > :44:19.really important we not lose the standards -- as we on Hitch from it.

:44:20. > :44:23.The second is, the elemental protections have to be carried

:44:24. > :44:29.through to our EU rights and protections built, but not just the

:44:30. > :44:32.protection is a means of enforcement because in relation to environmental

:44:33. > :44:37.rights many are enforced to EU mechanisms. There is no used

:44:38. > :44:41.transposing the rights across if you do not transpose the means of

:44:42. > :44:45.enforcement, but more than that a Labour government want to go further

:44:46. > :44:50.on environmental protection because it is a huge issue of our time on

:44:51. > :44:53.which more action is going to be needed. All of those commitments are

:44:54. > :44:59.commitments from an incoming Labour government. Last question, gentleman

:45:00. > :45:07.there, slightly taller than the people you're sitting by. Oh, the

:45:08. > :45:12.microphone. I am a member of this institution so welcome. Thank you,

:45:13. > :45:17.very much. You are a lawyer so advise, please. The best deal is to

:45:18. > :45:24.remain, self evidently, everything you said was about remaining, so,

:45:25. > :45:31.lawyer what is wrong with doing at de facto modified the main? -- that

:45:32. > :45:37.de facto modified Remain. APPLAUSE

:45:38. > :45:42.It is important that we are clear on this, I campaign to stay in the EU,

:45:43. > :45:48.I have worked with EU institutions over the years, first as a lawyer

:45:49. > :45:51.and then when I was Director of Public Prosecutions, I had staff in

:45:52. > :45:58.some of the EU agencies, I wanted was to remain. But I accept the

:45:59. > :46:04.referendum was a referendum that was for real. I would have expected, had

:46:05. > :46:10.we won the referendum that the result would have been honoured, and

:46:11. > :46:14.it cuts both ways. I am not prepared, now, for the Labour Party

:46:15. > :46:19.not to do except the result and genuinely accept the result. We

:46:20. > :46:24.asked for a decision, we got a decision it was close and that must

:46:25. > :46:30.be reflected in the negotiations and the way we reveal our country. The

:46:31. > :46:34.values I believe in have to be the values that underpin any future

:46:35. > :46:39.agreement. The Labour Party cannot spend all of its time trying to

:46:40. > :46:43.board out yesterday and not accept a result which it is honour bound to

:46:44. > :46:48.accept. We accept that we respected and we face the challenge ahead.

:46:49. > :46:54.That is why I have set out our objectives in the way we have set

:46:55. > :46:57.out. This the future, not the past, have the confidence about a future

:46:58. > :46:59.relationship, but genuinely accept the outcome of the referendum. Thank

:47:00. > :47:01.you. APPLAUSE

:47:02. > :47:24.Thank you. APPLAUSE

:47:25. > :47:27.Thank you, Jonathan, for that over-flattering introduction.

:47:28. > :47:30.The sort that my father would have enjoyed and my mother

:47:31. > :47:43.Now, it's fair to say that when I accepted the invitation some

:47:44. > :47:46.months ago to speak today I sort of rather expected that

:47:47. > :47:48.the conference would fall in a nice, quiet period, just before

:47:49. > :47:50.the council decided its negotiating guidelines, so so much

:47:51. > :48:00.I certainly hadn't anticipated that we would be in the middle

:48:01. > :48:03.of a general election campaign so for all the arguments that there

:48:04. > :48:06.will be over the next six weeks, I know that here there are people

:48:07. > :48:10.from both sides of the debate, from all parties and none,