Jeremy Corbyn will set out Labour’s alternative plan for a “good Brexit” in which the UK leaving the EU would spark a “radical programme of investment and real change” for the country.
The Labour leader will join Theresa May in addressing business leaders at the annual Confederation of British Industries conference on Monday as he steps up his efforts to outline an alternative plan for the future of Brexit.
In his speech he will dismiss Mrs May’s draft deal, which was unveiled last week, as “a botched, worst-of-all-worlds deal” which has left the public “anxious and confused”.
Jobs-first deal
And he will say that the Government has revealed a withdrawal deal that would “leave the country in an indefinite halfway house” and outline his own Brexit plan.
“The government is trying to force a bad deal that doesn’t meet our country’s needs by threatening us all with the chaos and serious damage to our economy of a no deal outcome,” he will say.
“The Prime Minister knows that no deal isn’t a real option. Neither the cabinet nor parliament would endorse such an extreme and dangerous course.
“Labour has an alternative plan for a sensible jobs-first deal that could win support in parliament and help bring our country together.”
Mr Corbyn will call for:
“A comprehensive and permanent customs union, with a British say in future trade deals, to support businesses and jobs and ensure no hard border in Northern Ireland.
“Guarantee that our country doesn’t fall behind the EU in workers’ rights, or protections for consumers and the environment.
“A strong single market relationship that allows British business continued access to European markets for both goods and services – while also ensuring we have the powers to support our public services and industry and transform the economy in all our regions and nations.”
He described Mrs May’s plans for a temporary customs arrangement to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland as a “sticking plaster” which will “prolong the uncertainty and put jobs and prosperity at risk”.
Investment
And he will say that he wants to use Brexit to prioritise change and investment across the country.
“If the Prime Minister is unable to negotiate an agreement that can win a majority in parliament and work for the whole country, Labour’s alternative plan can and must take its place,” he will add.
Mr Corbyn will address the conference after Mrs May will take to the stage to insist that her withdrawal agreement has been “agreed in full”.
But less than a week before the planned European Council summit she is braced for fresh attacks from inside and outside her own party.
Her speech is due to address those – thought to include up to five serving ministers – who think changes can be made to her deal before the November 25 summit.
Intense week of negotiations
She is expected to say that there is “an intense week of negotiations ahead of us”, adding: “During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship and I am confident that we can strike a deal at the council that I can take back to the House of Commons.
“The core elements of that deal are already in place. The Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed in full, subject of course to final agreement being reached on the future framework.”
CBI president John Allan is expected to call for MPs to back Mrs May’s deal – despite it not being “perfect” – and warn of the consequences of crashing of the EU for businesses and the economy.