Sir Keir Starmer Election 2017

Thanks very much I'll try and live up to that billing, now,

and thank you all for coming this morning and being with

As Jenny has said, at this election there will be a clear choice

on the ballot paper, two visions of Brexit.

Labour's approach, which is going to be based on our values,

Because, they are values of internationalism,

of being outward looking, of a belief that we achieve more

A fundamental belief that internationally we should face

challenges together with other countries and take advantages and

Now, as Jenny said, we accept that things will have to change,

our relationship with the EU is going to change, but we do not

accept, we do not accept, that Brexit has to mean what ever

We do not accept that there has to be a reckless Tory Brexit.

And that is a fundamental issue in this election,

it is a fundamental issue for everyone who will be voting.

We do not believe that if you are a citizen of the world,

Of course we recognise and accept that immigration rules

are going to have to change when we leave the EU,

let me say that again, we accept that immigration rules

are going to have to change when we leave the EU.

But, we don't accept that immigration should be the only

overarching priority, the only red line.

Nor do we believe that leaving the EU means that we have to sever

That Brexit means weakening workers' rights, environmental protections,

or that it must entail slashing corporate taxes.

We have a very different vision, a vision about how Brexit can work

And at its heart is a belief that we need to build a close,

collaborative future relationship with the EU,

a changed relationship, but a relationship.

And collaborative future relationship.

Not members, of course, but genuine going forward.

Where jobs, the economy and retaining the benefits

of the Single Market and the Customs Union

Where hard-fought workplace rights and the environment

Where we are truly an open, outward looking country.

Where EU nationals living here are guaranteed their rights

and can live in certainty that Brexit will not affect them.

A Brexit that brings the country together,

radically devolves power and supports all regions

That's the approach to Brexit I will set out today.

But let me deal with this head-on, and summarise the key differences.

The Prime Minister has adopted an ideologically approached view of

It has led her down a slippery slope,

nothing to do with the single market, nothing to do with the

customs union, nothing to do with the European Court or any court.

Nothing to do with the very many agencies that do such fantastic

collaborative work that is so important to all of us.

Out of all of those an approach that has led to

collaborative work that is so important to all of us.

It means taken option at that option off the table at the beginning of

Talking up no deal as if that is acceptable, some

people say, that is a clear approach, it is a rigid approach, it

is removing options before we have started and It's

What Labour will do is to scrap the Brexit white paper.

And draw up new negotiating objectives.

We will on day one unilaterally guarantee the

rights of EU citizens in this country.

And of course fight for the right of UK citizens across

We will scrap the Great Repeal Bill and replace it with what

it should be, an EU rights and protections Bill.

We will give a proper role to Parliament in the

process, not sideline it and treat all challenge

We will, of course, rebuild Britain by investing in people in a future

So, let me deal first with the white paper, the

Labour s White Paper will have a strong emphasis

on retaining the benefits of the single market

and the customs union as we know that is vital to protecting jobs

Our White Paper will make clear that jobs and the economy are Labour s

That means we will seek, continued tariff-free trade

between the UK and the EU, no new non-tariff burdens

we will ensure regulatory alignment and continued competitiveness

Retaining the all important threshold of

workplace rights so there is no race to the bottom, as we go forward.

I have been all over the country talking to businesses large and

small, communities large and small, trade unionists and all of them sing

with one voice on the need for these benefits to be the central part of

Whether this is best achieved through reformed membership

of the single market and the customs union

or via a bespoke trading arrangement is secondary to the outcome.

What matters for jobs, the economy and living standards

is that we retain the benefits that really matter.

And let me tell you this, what cannot be negotiated,

because these negotiations are not going to be easy, what cannot be

negotiated, we will replicate back here in the UK.

Let me give you an example, regulartory and

alignment, we will fight hard fight hard

and the people who work in those businesses

the future the way they have succeeded in the past.

And if we cannot get the repertory alignment may need through

negotiations in Brussels, we will achieve it at home through primary

legislation. If there is any issue an workplace right we will achieve

it back home through primary legislation. What matters is when

the end package is met, we have met the commitment of the same benefits

of the single market and the customs union. They are so important. That

means we need to focus, not on hypothetical trade deals with other

countries, but Armstrong trading arrangements with the U. After all,

the you account for 44% of our exports.

It is by far and away our most important trading partner.

It is extraordinary that we have a Prime Minister who has given up

on the Single Market and the Customs Union even before

negotiations have begun, but is so willing to talk up

the chance of there being no deal reached.

And it was received very badly by our EU neighbours. She has spoken

up, talk. , the chances of no deal being reached. She said repeatedly

that no deal is better than a bad deal. No deal is better than a bad

deal? Labour are very clear that no deal is the worst possible deal. It

would cause huge damage to our businesses and to our trade. The

examples just make that absolutely clear, parrots, of 30 to 40% on

dairy, and meat products. -- parrots of 30 to 40%. 10% on cards and loss

of transporting right. When I was with Vauxhall yesterday the anxiety

about that outcome is etched on the face of everyone who works the and

in so many of our other businesses across the country. No wonder the

CBI are calling it a recipe for chaos. A labour approach would end

this reckless approach. We will be clear, we need to negotiate strong

transitional arrangements as we leave the EU and ensure that there

is no cliff edge for our, me. Reject no deal as a viable option and

introduce and fight for transitional arrangements from the start. We will

also approach the task differently. Theresa May wants to close down

scrutiny and to challenge, in truth that lies partly behind her decision

to call an election. The idea that she should be challenged or question

in Parliament in a meaningful way is something she will not have. She

wants to knock that out of the way. Everyone knows that strong leaders

and strong decisions welcome scrutiny and accountability, welcome

challenge. That is how we arrive at the right decisions. These decisions

are so important we cannot duck this issue. So, Labour will take a

different approach working with Parliament not against Parliament,

we will legislate to ensure that there is a meaningful vote at the

end of the exercise, something that the Prime Minister refuses to do and

of course we will insist on regular to Alli regular reporting back

throughout the process so we can get the views of Parliament. So we can

ensure we are on the right track and make sure that when we get the

all-important vote at the end of the exercise Parliament has played its

role throughout the process. Of course, we need to work with the

devolved administrations to reflect the specific and particular

concerns. But, we have to do also be built relations with our EU

partners, because they have been damaged by the tone and approach

that has been taken so far. Striking a good deal does rely on having

alliances across Europe and that is why, as I said at the beginning,

what we need is that close, collaborative, future relationship

with the EU. Not members, but partners, continued cooperation in

all the other fields that matter, technology, science, medicine,

counterterrorism, climate change, higher education. So, a Labour

government will seek to remain part of the Rasmus schemes so British

students have the same cultural and educational opportunities after we

leave the EU. -- the main part of the Rasmus scheme. We will stay part

of Horizon 2020 at its successor programmes and welcome research

staff from the UK, from the EU. We will also seek to maintain

membership or equivalent relations with European organisations which

are the benefits to the EU such as, the European medicines agency, your

poll annually just. The member that part of the Prime Minister's speech

when she said you wanted out of all parts of the EU, all parts,

including those agencies. I have worked with Europol and other

agencies, and I know what they do 20 47 to keep us safe and to simply

walk away from those agencies on ideological grounds rather than

starting negotiations saying we want to stay in, we want to find a way is

fundamentally the wrong approach and we will reverse that. Let me deal

with EU nationals, because we will also adopt a new approach, here. It

is shameful that the Prime Minister rejected repeated attempts by Labour

to resolve this issue before Article 50 was triggered, as a result 3

million EU nationals have suffered unnecessary uncertainty as well is

the 1.2 million UK citizens living in the EU. It is often said the EU

nationals contribute to our society, and so they do, but they are part of

our society. They are part of our society and they should not be used

as bargaining chips. So, on day one of a Labour government we will

immediately guarantee that all EU nationals currently living in the UK

will see no change in the legal status as a result of Brexit.

That does not mean, as some people like to portray,

that we will not fight equally hard for UK citizens in the EU.

But we can do that, it is in our gift, it is in our

And I genuinely think it will help the chances

of a reciprocal arrangement for our citizens across Europe.

The strong message to me in discussions across Europe

in the last six months has been that an act such as that would be warmly

welcomed, and seen as an indication of the sort of relationship

And it would unblock a blockage which this Prime Minister cannot

guarantee will be resolved within the two years.

We will guarantee it, we will do it, and we will do it on day one.

There could be no clearer signal that the Labour party wants a closer

clarity of relationship with our EU partners.

I can assure you that will be in our manifesto.

And we will also set out further detail how we will reset

Firstly, we will drop the Tories' Great Repeal Bill.

The EU has had a huge impact, as all of you know, of securing

workplace protections and environmental standards,

That was one the main reasons Labour and trade union movement

I made that argument up and down the country

But we all know, because we were there in the campaign,

that for many Brexiteers in the Tory Party, this was why

It's why Priti Patel ? now in the Cabinet ? spoke

during the referendum of wanting to, in her words, 'halve the burdens

'of EU social and employment legislation.' 'Halve

Now, let's be honest about the selection,

Now, let's be honest about this election,

if a Tory government is returned with a majority they will not be

able to resist the temptation to water down and remove these vital

rights when they get the first opportunity to do so.

We do not consider these rights and protections as 'burdens'

or accept there should be any weakening of these

So instead of the Great Repeal Bill we will introduce an EU Rights

That will make sure that all the rights that we enjoy in this

country because of our membership of the EU -

workplace rights, consumer rights and environmental

are fully protected in our law without qualification,

without limitations and without sunset clauses.

A Labour approach to Brexit will ensure there can be no

rolling back of these key rights and protections.

And we will go further, because simply protecting the rights

and protections we have got can never be the height of ambition

So we will work with EU partners, trade unions and businesses

to ensure that, outside the EU, the UK does not lag behind

Europe in these rights and protections as we go forward.

There can be no space, no gap left for a race to the bottom.

The unhooking, unhinging and allowing for lower

standards in this country that there will be across Europe.

That brings me to another commitment that we will have in our manifesto.

A presumption that any devolved powers that are transferred back

from Brussels should go straight to the relevant devolved body.

There will be no power grab in Whitehall.

This will apply to regional government across England,

as well as to the devolved administrations in Scotland,

This was a proposal included by the Mayor of London

in his Brexit White Paper and it is one that a Labour

A Labour approach will be part of a radical extension

of devolution, and will help bring the country together.

The Brexit deal, getting the right deal, getting the right arrangements

for our country internationally is only half of the story.

We have to understand what lay beneath the vote

And what and why people were asking us to change, as Jenny said.

Labour's approach to Brexit will also contribute to how

we rebuild a fairer, more progressive country.

The debate over Brexit is not happening in a vacuum.

It will be shaped by the approach the Government that you elect takes

to a whole range of wider issues ? security, taxation, public services,

We need a Labour government that will deliver a real living way,

We need a Labour government that will deliver a real living wage,

give a pay rise to 5 million people, will invest in public services,

and I know, having run a public service for five years,

how much we need to invest in our public services,

Invest in the NHS, and invest in our schools, that has to be part

The right deal and the domestic dealing with the issues that

are there for us to deal with in this election.

That is the choice on the ballot paper at this election.

If Theresa May gets another five years in power she will take it

as a green light to sideline Parliament, ignore

opposition and drive through a reckless Tory Brexit.

She will isolate us from our nearest partners and strike trade deals

with any country that will talk to us, no matter what

the consequences for workers right, environmental protections,

The only way to stop that and to build a fairer Britain

A Labour government that will reset our approach to Brexit,

rebuild relations with the EU and make sure that jobs,

We have just over six weeks to make that case,

Now we will take some questions and I will do four or five

from the front three rows which is the press and then open it

Keir Starmer has a brain the size of China and this is your time

to pick it so people at the back, get your questions ready.

BBC News, you have spoken of reformed

membership of the EU and reformed membership of the customs union,

does that mean of workers that keeping some form of free movement

of workers or giving up the right to make trade deals will be a price

worth paying for what you say would be a good deal?

Would that, do you think, attract or put off votes for Labour?

On freedom of movement I have been absolutely clear,

freedom of movement will have to end as we leave the EU.

It's an EU rule and law, and it ends as we leave.

And we negotiate on the understanding that the rules

That is the basis of the negotiations and that has to be

the approach to the single market and the customs union.

That is why I have said what we need to focus on is not the form,

but the function, what we need to get out of this?

It will have to involve negotiations on freedom of movement.

The point I am really trying to make is this,

what we should do at the outset is make sure we have got

options on the table, not take options off the table,

and the customs union is a classic example of this.

There is anxiety across the manufacturing sector

about the impact of simply walking away from the customs union.

It may be in a year or two years that doesn't work,

but why take options off the table before you have even

Let me be clear, that does not involve unreformed membership

of the single market, which carried with it

the freedom of movement, which we accept, fully accept,

So it might be worth giving up the right to do free trade deals

around the world for the sake of a good deal

We need to leave the option on the table, we need to get

the right deal with the EU and we need to recognise that 44%

of our trade is with the EU and that is I am not saying,

and we are talking about the opening stance, not where we end up,

but the opening stance, any sensible negotiations start

by leaving the maximum number of options on the table

Rigidity and recklessness is the government's approach.

What we need is smart and flexible, and that has been ruled

You say you do not want a second referendum but,

if you do come back from Europe without a deal or if, indeed,

MPs reject your deal, are there circumstances

in which you would hold a second referendum?

A 2-part answer to that. The whole point of ensuring -- Leu Parliament

in that process is to ensure that Parliament has had its say and can

influence what is going on and we don't want to be in the position of

no Deal or Parliament not having confidence in the deal we return,

and that is really important and that is how the European Parliament

is approaching this, involving MEPs so there is confidence in the final

decision. The difficulty with the argument about a second referendum

is back conceptually it says, compare what we have now with the

final deal, but on my scenario, the best case for our country is an

Article 50 deal, transitional arrangements, probably for two or

three years, and therefore a final deal that is seen and understood in

probably five or six years' time. At that stage we will have left to the

EU three or four years earlier and therefore the second referendum

argument simply doesn't hold water. It is even more fundamental than

that. As a political party you have to make choices about how you will

react to something that you didn't want to happen. I didn't want us to

leave the EU. The Labour Party campaign for us to leave but as

Jenny said we had a decision and we respect the decision. We have a

choice, do we look backwards and try to rub out what happened or do we

stand up and face the challenges ahead? I think we must do the second

of those and that is what we are doing. You will at a second

referendum in any circumstance? Victim Care Unit next question, can

we move on. Sky News. Can you clarify a simple question, are you

pulling out under a Labour government that Britain can be a

member of the European Economic Area, and also one of the first

thing that will happen is that the European Commission within weeks of

a referendum will come out of a figure for the liabilities of the

European Union, are you going to just accepted the of ten or 20 or 30

or 50 billion euros? On membership of the single market I have said

before and I will say again, as it currently stands the membership of

the single market is incompatible with our clarity about the fact that

freedom of movement rules have to change. I would want to have a

discussion with our partners about what reforms that could be to the

single market, other ways of working, in other words, what is the

relationship that we can have with the single market. To leave that as

a point of discussion. As you will know the EU itself published our

white paper in the March setting out five possible models for the EU.

There is a big discussion in Europe about what the models are going

forward, and I want us to be part of those discussions and not ruled out

from afar but I don't want any lack of clarity. As it currently stands,

because we are members of the single market and we are EU countries, then

that is not an option from the outset. On the money, let me... Of

course, any incoming Labour government would negotiate the

liabilities on behalf of our people, on behalf of our country. I think it

will be the worst of all outcomes if the summer is spent Dahmer sated --

dominated by big sums of money being batted backwards and forwards. What

we need to be is grown up and say let's negotiate the principles that

under pinned the sum, what is the money for an on what basis must it

be played -- paid? And then we will be clear that we are a country that

honours are international obligations and that is not just a

backward looking exercise, it is of former -- forward-looking exercise.

If we want a really good deal with the EU go forward and we want to

contemplate free-trade agreements across the world the last thing we

want to do is to be held up as a country that doesn't comply with its

international obligations because that will damage our ability to get

decent deals in the future. But, principles first,

one of the principles is the liability has to be properly

worked out according to principles that we negotiate and agree with,

but also the principle that we will honour

international obligations. Hi, Steve Hawkes at The Sun,

can I just ask you to imagine, Jeremy Corbyn wins the election,

March the 29th 2019, MPs for one reason or another have

rejected the deal that you have brought back from

Brussels, what happens? Do we leave an WTO terms or do

you seek an extinction that keeps First and foremost, I think

it is really important if there is going to be a vote

in Parliament, that it is in that it is in the autumn of 2018,

so it is not at the last minute and gives the opportunity for

negotiators to go back to the table, and when we are dealing with some

as important as this country, I think it is important that any

Prime Minister to say, "One, I want to build

confidence for what I'm going to put before Parliament

and if when there is still time to do so, I can go back,

they will go back, rather than doggedly saying take

the deal or leave it." Take the deal or leave

it is a political choice it doesn't have to be that way,

and so the timing Of course there will be limits

to how often one can go back, there will have to be an end point,

if the first vote, in the autumn of 2018 is a rejection vote,

of course any responsible government would then have to draw up

contingency and emergency measures to make sure that if there is no

deal at the end of the exercise, we have provisions in place to deal

with that, because that'll be Would that be then extending EU

membership for six months, a year, Ideally we would go

on to transitional arrangements while we thrash through the rest

of negotiations, that would be the ideal scenario,

and that is what going back But, in the event that all of that

failed we would have to have contingency plans and emergency

plans here to deal with the cliff edge scenario,

because that is what businesses want and they are saying it up

and down the country, contingency measures in those

circumstances, but we will not arrive at that place,

because of the way that we will conduct the negotiations

and what we seek to achieve. Thanks so much, Channel 5 news,

you say that on day one you would give EU citizens

here all the rights that they enjoy, but you would then fight

just as hard or as hard as anyone else to get rights

were British citizens in the rest of the EU,

but by definition you have already given up one

of your strongest cards in that, so you would not be able

to fight as hard, would you, when you've given up

to the European Union's side a vital part of the negotiating

strength your part. The way you have just

described it is to use people as bargaining chips,

as a card, we went to the right thing by EU citizens

here because we want to hold that as a threat to the EU nations,

and that is to hold a group It is the classic example

of a bargaining chip. The government says it is not

interesting in bargaining chips, but if that is the approach that is a

bargaining approach and we would not do that, we would unilaterally

guaranteed those rights. APPLAUSE

I am convinced, absolutely convinced that that gesture would unlock this

impasse and guarantee the citizens, across the EU, exactly the same

rights. I'm convinced it would unlock the impasse. It would not be

seen as a sign of weakness? If we don't do it, the Prime Minister says

it will be a priority incidents David Davis and I do not doubt that.

But, they cannot guarantee that. There is a saying in Europe but

nothing is agreed to everything is agreed could face the prospect, if

we do not take unilateral action of EU citizens not truly knowing the

position for another two years. That is not the right thing to do. OK we

have another ten minutes so we will open up, yes gentlemen with his hand

raised. Thank you. Thank you for the presentation, I think we welcome it

very much indeed. The Conservatives do not have any role model of a hard

Brexit agreement 2.2, we do have a country within Europe that does have

most of the advantages of the EU with out being a member, Norway.

From my experience they have had a good constructive relationship and I

hope this will be taken into account in our examination in our plans.

There is a lot said about the Norway model, the longer the shorter bit is

that Norway negotiated a model that for them. I do not think it works in

any country to seek the go shoot a model based on what worked for

another country. We have to negotiate on what works for the UK

and to ensure that the final UK, EU arrangement, is one that works for

us and safeguards the interests and protects the interests that I have

outlined. Yes. Thank you. Chair of Labour business, the party's

affiliated business group. I think our members will welcome your

emphasis on jobs, the economy, and shared prosperity of the touchstone

of these negotiations, they will welcome that. Thank you for making

it so clear. Our members would also want to ask, and perhaps give you

the opportunity to say how you would address the concern about managed

migration, because as you know many businesses in the UK do not depend

on EU migration to fulfil jobs that are not filled locally. We might

want them to be filled locally, but they are not currently filled, so

could you take this opportunity to tell us how you would see managed

migration going forward from the EU and non-EU countries? Thank you. I

repeat, again, the immigration rules will have to change when we leave

the EU and freedom of movement will not be a will that is operated any

longer. Which opens up the question of what will go in its place. In

answering that question is very important to strip away different

forms of immigration is, so refugees are owed international education is

by our company and every other country that signed the relevant

provisions and we have to deal with them in accordance to those

international obligations. I do not think international student should

be in numbers of immigrants, I think we should welcome them to the

country to come and study here and be part of the country and to take

the education back to the country of origin and hopefully work with

others in the future. So, I would separate those out that leaves

family immigration where we have those banana EU nationals and of

course work. So far as work is concerned I think we have do say

managed migration system that is premised on what works for the

economy and works for our communities. I think we have to be

honest enough to except that the referendum result was largely a

result of concerns about freedom of movement and we have to listen to

that, so it has to work for the economy and communities and that

means we have to have a discussion with businesses about what their

needs are and how they are to be managed. The last thing we want is

for businesses to not be able to conduct their businesses

successfully in the future but we also have to listen to what people

are telling is about immigration and getting that part right is essential

as we go forward. Because the microphone is here, the gentleman

behind you and I'll come over here. Brett of builders merchants

Federation, you have talked about free trade and customs arrangement

which I thank you but my question relates to non-power the barriers,

the question is if the HMRC got a big enough computer to deal with

thousands and millions more customs declarations, leaving the EU means

no VAT but paying VAT on imports so my question is as someone, you won a

public service, what will a Labour government do to help businesses,

HMRC and critically Port authorities, so we do not see

operation Stack in Dover, lorries parking on Kentish roads replicated

in other towns in Kent. First of all we will negotiate said that there

are no new custom buttons. That is important. Second, make it clear

that no deal is not a viable option, because no deal means no

arrangements in place in March 2019 to deal with these changes, anyone

who knows anything about customs knows it will be impossible to put

in place the necessary arrangements within a two-year period, so,

leaving with no deal is not a your trading issue it is a practical

customs issue and that is why committing to no deal and not doing

as Boris Johnson and others do is to say it is a relaxed situation to

find ourselves in and being clear that we need transitional measures.

It is not just customs, in my wealth of criminal justice the idea of

leaving without an agreement that allows others to continue to use and

access the criminal justice tools that we have got is something that

anyone involved in the field is an thinkable. We have to be clear about

that and we have to have a discussion with business about how

we make this work for you in a way that reduces the burden on you. And

we have to involve businesses from the start. Most businesses are

saying to me that it is the uncertainty that is causing them the

greatest anxiety. But if they knew there was a genuine commitment to

transitional measures it would help them great deal in future planning

because they have to decide whether they will put in place customs

arrangements in two years or five years. They to answering your

question. Yes, this gentleman here. I think this question leads on from

what you have just been saying and puts it in a wider context. I'm

Stephen Hopman, as you know. One of the effects of leaving the EU is

clearly going to beat the all the obligations which the EU, its member

states and its citizens over to us are going to come to an end at least

the formal, legal obligations, would you agree that the collaborative

approach which is the key element in your presentation is going to be

absolutely necessary, it is a precondition of enabling those

obligations to survive in some form for the benefit of the people of

this country, otherwise we will simply be adrift? Weight I could not

agree more which is why no deal, severing all relations and leaving

those rights and obligations hounding is a very, very bad case

scenario. -- and leaving those obligations hanging. That is why a

Labour government will save the outset that it is not a viable

option, we need have a meaningful and collaborative relationship in

which rights and obligations are understood and respected as we go

forward because your web is our main trading partner and of course the EU

countries other countries that we do the most collaboration and

co-operative work with and we need to have the framework within which

that all pics place. That is not to say that we do not leave as members

of the EU, it is to say that we draw up a partnership which is not

membership, which allows those arrangements to continue in place.

We will have two more questions starting with the ladies in the very

eye-catching dress of the fund, here. -- with the very eye-catching

dress at the front. I am concerned with the environmental impact, there

is negotiations and discussions about the pollution. I wonder what

you are thinking about after we left how we will negotiate those,

especially the own renewable energy markets, it is our biggest income

and it is dropped over 30,000 jobs, this might lead more job cuts in the

UK. I want to know how we can look at that. Briefly, the Mariah Mint is

one of the areas where a lot of the standards that we apply with.

# Briefly, In my constituency we have a

pollution issues, as we do across other parts of London and UK. The

standards we apply compound the EU and as we on Hitch bombing it is

really important we not lose the standards -- as we on Hitch from it.

The second is, the elemental protections have to be carried

through to our EU rights and protections built, but not just the

protection is a means of enforcement because in relation to environmental

rights many are enforced to EU mechanisms. There is no used

transposing the rights across if you do not transpose the means of

enforcement, but more than that a Labour government want to go further

on environmental protection because it is a huge issue of our time on

which more action is going to be needed. All of those commitments are

commitments from an incoming Labour government. Last question, gentleman

there, slightly taller than the people you're sitting by. Oh, the

microphone. I am a member of this institution so welcome. Thank you,

very much. You are a lawyer so advise, please. The best deal is to

remain, self evidently, everything you said was about remaining, so,

lawyer what is wrong with doing at de facto modified the main? -- that

de facto modified Remain. APPLAUSE

It is important that we are clear on this, I campaign to stay in the EU,

I have worked with EU institutions over the years, first as a lawyer

and then when I was Director of Public Prosecutions, I had staff in

some of the EU agencies, I wanted was to remain. But I accept the

referendum was a referendum that was for real. I would have expected, had

we won the referendum that the result would have been honoured, and

it cuts both ways. I am not prepared, now, for the Labour Party

not to do except the result and genuinely accept the result. We

asked for a decision, we got a decision it was close and that must

be reflected in the negotiations and the way we reveal our country. The

values I believe in have to be the values that underpin any future

agreement. The Labour Party cannot spend all of its time trying to

board out yesterday and not accept a result which it is honour bound to

accept. We accept that we respected and we face the challenge ahead.

That is why I have set out our objectives in the way we have set

out. This the future, not the past, have the confidence about a future

relationship, but genuinely accept the outcome of the referendum. Thank

you. APPLAUSE

Thank you. APPLAUSE

Thank you, Jonathan, for that over-flattering introduction.

The sort that my father would have enjoyed and my mother

Now, it's fair to say that when I accepted the invitation some

months ago to speak today I sort of rather expected that

the conference would fall in a nice, quiet period, just before

the council decided its negotiating guidelines, so so much

I certainly hadn't anticipated that we would be in the middle

of a general election campaign so for all the arguments that there

will be over the next six weeks, I know that here there are people

from both sides of the debate, from all parties and none,