Barry Gardiner said Britain would be unable to make free trade deals if it stayed in the customs union Danny Lawson/Press AssociationRemaining in the customs union would be a disaster for the UK, Labour’s trade spokesman has said, further confusing the party’s stance on Brexit. Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, said that staying in the customs bloc would leave the UK unable to strike free trade deals. His comments appeared to contradict Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, who has said that membership of the customs union should remain on the table. The party’s anti-Brexit wing also wants the UK to remain in the customs union and single market after 2019. Mr Gardiner told Westminster Hour on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday: “Countries like Turkey have a separate customs union agreement, but the trouble with that is that it gives you an asymmetrical…

Source: The Times July 24, 2017 23:02 UTC