Labour will block the UK’s exit from the European Union if the Government is unable to guarantee access to the single market, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
T
he opposition will join forces with Tory Remain supporters and other parties to prevent Article 50 from being triggered if this trade access is not assured, the Labour leader told theSunday Mirror.
Mr Corbyn suggested Prime Minister Theresa May, who has a slim Commons majority, would be forced into an early general election if she fails to meet Labour’s “Brexit bottom line”.
The Government is appealing a High court ruling ordering that Ms May must seek MPs’ approval to trigger Article 50.
Mr Corbyn said: “The court has thrown a big spanner in the works by saying Parliament must be consulted.
“We accept the result of the referendum. We are not challenging the referendum. We are not calling for a second referendum. We’re calling for market access for British industry to Europe.”
He added that in the event of a snap general election, the Labour party would be “ready for it”.
“If the Government calls an election, we’re ready for it,” he said. “We have the members, the organisation and the enthusiasm. We welcome the challenge.
“It would give us the chance to put before the British people an alternative economic strategy for this country.”