Thirty pro-EU Labour MPs and campaigners have written to the chair of the party’s ruling national executive committee, urging him to consult its half a million members about Labour’s Brexit policy.

The NEC has set up eight policy commissions since last year’s general elections that allow Labour to consult members and develop policy in different areas. They include health and social care, justice and home affairs, and housing, local government and transport – but not Brexit.

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Many of the members who flooded into Labour in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn’s election, and re-election, as party leader are EU enthusiasts, and pro-remain MPs say they believe consulting the membership could help to push the Labour leadership towards a softer Brexit.

Heidi Alexander, the Lewisham East MP who co-chairs the Labour Campaign for the Single Market, is among the signatories to the letter to NEC chair Andy Kerr. The letter was coordinated by the LCSM and the campaign group Open Britain.



She said: “No matter what your views on Brexit – whether you think we should stop it altogether or find a way to stay as close as possible - it is quite astonishing to think that. in the 12 months leading up to the country’s scheduled departure from the EU, the Labour party doesn’t have a dedicated policy group to consider the issue.

Quick guide What are Brexit options now? Four scenarios Show Hide Staying in the single market and customs union The UK could sign up to all the EU’s rules and regulations, staying in the single market – which provides free movement of goods, services and people – and the customs union, in which EU members agree tariffs on external states. Freedom of movement would continue and the UK would keep paying into the Brussels pot. We would continue to have unfettered access to EU trade, but the pledge to “take back control” of laws, borders and money would not have been fulfilled. This is an unlikely outcome and one that may be possible only by reversing the Brexit decision, after a second referendum or election. The Norway model Britain could follow Norway, which is in the single market, is subject to freedom of movement rules and pays a fee to Brussels – but is outside the customs union. That combination would tie Britain to EU regulations but allow it to sign trade deals of its own. A “Norway-minus” deal is more likely. That would see the UK leave the single market and customs union and end free movement of people. But Britain would align its rules and regulations with Brussels, hoping this would allow a greater degree of market access. The UK would still be subject to EU rules. The Canada deal A comprehensive trade deal like the one handed to Canada would help British traders, as it would lower or eliminate tariffs. But there would be little on offer for the UK services industry. It is a bad outcome for financial services. Such a deal would leave Britain free to diverge from EU rules and regulations but that in turn would lead to border checks and the rise of other “non-tariff barriers” to trade. It would leave Britain free to forge new trade deals with other nations. Many in Brussels see this as a likely outcome, based on Theresa May’s direction so far. No deal Britain leaves with no trade deal, meaning that all trade is governed by World Trade Organization rules. Tariffs would be high, queues at the border long and the Irish border issue severe. In the short term, British aircraft might be unable to fly to some European destinations. The UK would quickly need to establish bilateral agreements to deal with the consequences, but the country would be free to take whatever future direction it wishes. It may need to deregulate to attract international business – a very different future and a lot of disruption.

“All the subjects which are being considered by the national policy forum this year are important, but we need to be honest: there is a bit of an elephant in the room.”

The letter, which is also signed by Eda Cazimoglu of Labour Students, Richard Angell of Progress , more than 30 MPs and MEPs and Labour local government leaders, says: “Brexit is the single biggest issue facing our country and our members deserve a say. This should be a deliberative process, such as that which has historically been enabled by our policy commissions, and should culminate in a full debate at party conference later this year. This is not a fringe issue and should not be treated as such.

The campaign groups will be encouraging their members to get involved with the debate and urge the NEC to consult more widely about policy development.

As a founder member of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Corbyn is a longtime champion of a greater role for members in decision-making, as is Jon Lansman, founder of pro-Corbyn group Momentum.

Corbyn’s party has retained an ambiguous position about the parameters for a future relationship with the EU27 it would be willing to accept – pursuing a “jobs first” Brexit but without specifying whether that means remaining in the customs union, for example.

Some members of the shadow cabinet are privately keen to push Labour into taking a clearer stance.

A party spokesman said Brexit was the responsibility of the international policy commission. “The commission and wider national policy forum are looking at the issue this year in meetings, evidence sessions and by considering all submissions received,” he said.

MPs who signed the letter included Margaret Hodge, Mary Creagh, Anna Turley and Kate Green, as well as the Liverpool mayor, Joe Anderson, and the Manchester city council leader, Richard Leese.