Jeremy Corbyn promises Brexit deal with green protections at its heart – Guardian
Business Green – Madeleine Cuff Labour leader makes case for close co-operation with EU post-Brexit to fight the common challenge of climate change and protect green jobs and standards
Jeremy Corbyn wants the UK to set a ‘floor’ of existing standards and regulations and ensure the UK remains in “a customs union” after Brexit in a bid to boost the UK’s green economy and drive progress on tackling climate change.
In a long-awaited speech on Labour’s Brexit policy the Labour leader said his party would seek to retain the UK’s membership of certain EU agencies such as nuclear safeguards body Euratom and chemicals agency REACH.
The stance establishes a clear dividing line with the government, which is broadly committed to leaving any EU institutions where the European Court of Justice has jurisdiction and establishing new UK-based watchdogs and legislative regimes.
However, Corbyn insisted the pragmatic stance for the UK would be to try and retain involvement in EU agencies, including environment-related bodies, that have generally served the country well.
“For 45 years our economy has become increasingly linked to the European Union, and many of our laws and regulations set and monitored by joint European authorities,” Corbyn said. “It makes no sense for the UK to abandon EU agencies and tariff-free trading rules that have served us well supporting our industrial sectors, protecting workers and consumers and safeguarding the environment. If that means negotiating to support individual EU agencies, rather than paying more to duplicate those agencies here then that should be an option.”
Corbyn also argued the UK should remain in “a customs union” with the EU to ensure there is barrier-free access to the European markets – a point he said was vital for the continued success of the UK’s green economy. But he insisted such a deal would be contingent on the UK having influence over the shape of future trade deals.
“The Green Alliance estimates that trade in low carbons good and services contributed over £42bn to the economy in 2015,” Corbyn said. “The UK low carbon and renewable energy sector is expected to increase five-fold by 2030, potentially bringing two million jobs and contributing more than eight per cent to the UK’s national output. But that needs us to maintain our standards and ensure barrier-free trade in low-carbon goods.”
The speech is the most direct to-date from Corbyn on the impact Brexit could have on the UK’s green economy, and pits Labour’s vision head-to-head with the Conservative government’s promise to deliver a ‘Green Brexit’ outside of the single market and customs union.
It could also threaten the government’s slim working majority in the Commons. If Conservative MPs in favour of a softer Brexit choose to align with Labour over the government’s policy it could result in a series of government defeats through amendments to the Withdrawal Bill.
Both parties have insisted Brexit won’t mean a “race to the bottom” on environmental standards, but Corbyn used his speech today to insist that continuing adherence to many EU rules in certain sectors will be vital for tackling pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which “stubbornly refuses to respect national borders”.
“We can only tackle climate change, pollution and environmental degradation by working together, and many of our closest allies in that struggle are in Europe,” he said. “So the importance of getting our Brexit settlement right is vital in this area, both in terms of Britain’s industrial role in reducing climate change and in terms of protecting jobs and industry.”
In particular, Corbyn cited eco-design standards, chemical regulations, greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle efficiency rules, and nuclear safeguards as key areas where close co-operation and international standards should be upheld post-Brexit.
The government has promised to maintain high standards in these areas, but influential Conservative backbenchers and commentators have long argued Brexit could trigger a relaxation of environmental rules and standards.
The speech is likely to be welcomed by green businesses and sustainability executives, who are keen to hear some clarity over the how the UK will enforce environmental standards post-Brexit.
Shaun Spiers, executive director of the Green Alliance, said it was encouraging Corbyn noted the economic importance of the UK’s green economy in his address. “There is estimated to be a £17tr investment market as the world decarbonises to meet the commitments made in the Paris climate agreement,” Spiers said. “But, to take advantage of these opportunities, the UK needs to keep high standards and significant alignment with EU rules that maximise low carbon trade.”
But the move could also bring considerable political disruption and uncertainty if it threatens the government’s ability to pass Brexit policy in the Commons.
Last week at a crunch meeting at the Prime Minister’s country retreat at Chequers, cabinet ministers agreed the government’s official position on Brexit as seeking a “ambitious managed divergence” between EU and UK rules after Brexit.
A speech from the Prime Minister later this week is expected to set out more details on the government’s position, but Theresa May is expected to face fierce opposition from backbench Conservative MPs if her plans signal too close an alignment with EU rules and institutions.
And green groups remain concerned that the government’s Withdrawal Bill, the main legal instrument to carry over EU legislation to UK law, does not yet go far enough to embed EU environmental principles into UK law and address a “governance gap” between EU legislation and post Brexit enforcement bodies.
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