Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has challenged Andy Burnham to abandon the Government’s timidity over Europe and vote for an upcoming Liberal Democrat amendment to join the single market.
The proposed amendment to the European Partnership Bill would place a duty on the Government to begin negotiations with the EU on the UK joining the single market, tearing down the trade barriers that have crippled British businesses in the ten years since the 2016 referendum.
The warning comes as The party launched a nationwide billboard campaign attacking Nigel Farage on the 10th anniversary of Brexit
The Liberal Democrats warned that the Labour government’s rigid adherence to its red lines is crippling growth, holding the British economy back and costing the country £90 billion a year in lost tax revenue. A recent study of Bank of England company data estimated the UK economy has taken a 6% hit from the effects of Brexit.
It comes as the country marks a lost decade of falling living standards and economic stagnation since the Brexit vote, with ordinary households continuing to pay the price while Nigel Farage benefits from a £5 million gift he has described as a “reward” for his role in delivering Brexit.
“The British public can see the hard truth that most politicians refuse to admit: the Conservatives’ Brexit experiment has failed.
“While ordinary families have suffered a lost decade of falling living standards, Nigel Farage has walked away with a £5 million Brexit reward.
“This is a defining moment. If Andy Burnham wants to deliver the change the Labour Party promised, he needs to vote for our amendment to get Britain into the Single Market. This is the single most effective step we can take to turbocharge growth, tackle the cost of living crisis and fix the UK’s broken relationship with Europe.”
