Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out rejoining the European Union, saying the UK must move forward and that divisions cannot be reopened.
The Labor leader told Beth News’ Sky Rigby: “We will not return to the EU, the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement.
“We are moving forward and not backward, not reopening these divisions.
“I don’t think reopening all the old wounds and going back will help us in this mission of boosting the economy.”
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Sir Keir was speaking before launching a five-point plan to tackle Brexit on Monday evening.
He said the plan would “remove some of the barriers” to trade with the EU that “hold us back”.
The current Brexit deal “is not a good deal,” he said, adding that it is causing problems in Northern Ireland and service and security agreements are not good enough.
“This is a plan for the future, it is not a plan to go back, it is not a plan to rejoin the EU,” he insisted.
Looking ahead to the next general election, which is supposed to be in 2024, he added: “This will be the driving force behind an incoming Labor government: to grow the economy.”
Sir Keir said he did not regret campaigning for a second Brexit referendum, which is said to have helped Labor lose the last election.
“We did our policy in the circumstances that then were the real circumstances, but now we have left the EU and the government has said we have to do Brexit, but it really has no plan to do it,” he said. added.
“I want Brexit to work.”
He said he is “absolutely convinced” that there are “practical ways” to solve the current problems surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has effectively placed a border on the Irish Sea.
Read more: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol and how does it work?
Sir Keir also said the Conservatives are in a “downward spiral, and we are coming”, and said the recent Labor midterm victories “show that we are on the path to a Labor government”.
He said he could not sympathize with Boris Johnson appointing Deputy Chris Pincher as the team’s deputy director when he learned there were rumors about his conduct.
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Pincher left the government last week after admitting he had gotten drunk and after allegations he palpated two men, including another MP.
Sir Keir said: “It is a bad judgment on the part of the Prime Minister, a man who puts himself above all others, and no, I am afraid I have no sympathy for him.”
When asked if he would have appointed Mr Pincher if he had been Prime Minister, Sir Keir said, “No, I would not.”