Financial Times: Pro-EU Tory Faction to Join Labour on Brexit

Britain remains divided about whether the nation should part ways with the European Union, and some members of parliament mull crossing party lines to salvage a trade relationship. Voters in June 2016 narrowly approved exiting the EU, but concerns emerged since about misinformation and foreign interference during the campaign. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour party, shifted his party’s positon to favor staying in a customs union with the EU. “Pro-EU rebels in the Conservative party said on Monday they would join with Labour to force a retreat by Theresa May on her vision for Brexit, sapping the prime minister of even more political capital ahead of critical talks with Brussels,” reports the Financial Times. “Corbyn said remaining in a customs union would ensure no new tariffs with the bloc and would reduce the need for checks at the Irish border….his blueprint for future ties with the EU included conditions Brussels is unlikely to accept — including a say in future trade deals and an exemption from EU rules preventing state aid to industry.” Members reconsidering complete exit maintain that they are putting “country first.” – YaleGlobal