LAMMY BREAKS RANKS ON BREXIT – The Deputy Prime Minister refused seven times to rule out reversing Brexit 

David Lammy has suggested that re-joining the EU customs union would boost economic growth, amid mounting calls from within Downing Street to undo Brexit.

During an interview on Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister refused seven times to rule out reversing Brexit, arguing that leaving the EU “badly damaged our economy” and that Labour should consider closer integration with Brussels.

Mr Lammy said that re-joining the customs union was not “currently” the Government’s policy, but that it was “self-evident” that other countries had “seen growth” after doing so.

His comments echo similar arguments from Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, who said on Wednesday that Labour should undo “the economic damage done by Brexit”, as well as Sir Keir Starmer’s own chief economic adviser and some senior figures close to No 10.

Sir Keir pledged not to return to the single market or customs union in Labour’s manifesto last year, but is under increasing pressure from MPs and advisers to reconsider in light of dire growth forecasts.

Mr Lammy, asked on the News Agents podcast whether he would like to see Britain rejoin the customs union, said: “That is not currently our policy. That’s not currently where we are. “But you can see countries like Turkey with a customs union seemingly benefiting and seeing growth in their economy, and again, that’s self-evident.”