Labour’s leader in European Parliament says Theresa May’s Brexit plan will 'make most people poorer'
Glenis Wilmott MEP responds to the Prime Minister’s speech and describes her plans as 'chaotic'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May’s Brexit plan will “make most people poorer”, Labour’s leader in the European Parliament said.
Glenis Wilmott MEP described the Prime Minister's plans as “chaotic”.
“Theresa May has previously claimed she would protect workers after Brexit," she told The Independent. "But how does this square with the chancellor’s vision of a neoliberal lala land in which employment, environmental and consumer rights are sacrificed, taxes are slashed and public services suffer.”
"Whether she calls it 'soft', 'hard' or 'red, white and blue', the result will almost certainly be chaotic.”
Ms May said the United Kingdom would not remain a full member of the EU customs union after Brexit, and instead would negotiate its own trade deals with the rest of the world.
She also suggested Britain would prefer to retain a form of "associate membership" of the union, limiting the increase in red tape for businesses who export to continental Europe
But Ms Wilmott said the plans meant jobs were at risk and that Ms May had not outlined what she actually wants to achieve from the negotiations.
“So now we know: Theresa May has given up on the Single Market before negotiations have even begun, whatever the cost - the cost in jobs, the cost in trade, the cost to our economy.
“Britain is leaving the European Union, but the choices about how we leave will sit with Theresa May and the government - and this looks like a Tory plan that will make most people poorer,” Ms Wilmott said.
“And despite all of this, we still don’t have clarity on what she actually wants to achieve in terms of our future trading relationship with Europe. So despite the all the talk we still face uncertainty, putting even more jobs at risk.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments