Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn suggests Labour may back 'Norway-style' access to EU single market

Labour recently said it backed continued full access to the single market during a transition out of the EU

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he is "open" to discussing the future level access to the EU's single market (Getty)

Jeremy Corbyn has signalled he is prepared to discuss the UK gaining full “Norway-style” access to the EU’s single market after Brexit.

The Labour leader said future relations with the single market are “open for discussion” when asked if they might mirror Norway’s, which see the country outside the EU but with full access.

It comes after the party’s Brexit spokesperson Sir Keir Starmer announced Labour now favours Britain staying in the single market and a customs union with Europe during its transition out of the EU.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Mr Corbyn said: “There has to be a trade relationship with Europe.

“Whether that is formally within the single market, or whether that is an agreement to trade within the single market, I think is open for discussion and negotiation.”

Asked whether the UK could have a single market agreement like Norway, which is not an EU member but has almost full access in return for accepting its rules, Mr Corbyn chose to underline the importance of European supply chains to major UK industries and jobs.

Pressed on whether the UK could stay in the single market “indefinitely”, he said: “We want a relationship that allows us to trade within the single market, whether that’s formal membership – which is only possible I believe if you are actually a member of the EU – or whether it’s an agreed trading relationship is open for discussion.”

In a move that shifted the UK’s Brexit debate, Sir Keir announced last month that Labour would back the UK remaining in the single market and a customs union during a transition period.

He admitted that staying in the single market during the transition would mean abiding by its “common rules”, or in other words, accepting free movement and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

The same would happen if the UK were to seek a Norway-style agreement which saw the country retain full access to the single market.

Any move in rhetoric towards that position would anger Labour traditionalists who see an end to free movement as critical to ensuring Labour shows it has heeded the result of last year’s EU referendum.

A spokesperson for the Labour leader insisted the party’s position had not changed.

He said: “We won’t be ‘members’ of the single market after the transition. We want to achieve full tariff-free access to the single market.

“That could be achieved by a new relationship with the single market or a bespoke trade deal with the EU.”