Starmer right to rule-out Brexit race to bottom on standards

While speaking at a conference in Canada, Labour Leader Keir Starmer, suggested that if Labour were to win the next election they would not seek to diverge from EU protections and standards.

In May, the UK Trade and Business Commission published 114 recommendations to boost the UK economy. One of the key recommendations was ‘maintaining regulatory alignment with the EU where beneficial; outside of the Single Market and Customs Union. Achieved through a new ‘UK-EU Regulatory Cooperation Council’.’

Geoff Mackey, UK Head of Plastics Europe and member of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission said,

“For some, Brexit was always about creating a race to the bottom on things like food standards, workers rights and environmental protections and ignoring the fact that diverging from our largest market will only increase costs for businesses and consumers.

“Aligning with high EU standards where beneficial and as recommended by our commission, is something the Government could do to boost the economy and it is positive that at least the Labour leader recognises this.”