‘YOU DON’T KNOW!’
Emily Thornberry slammed on Question Time for Labour’s shambolic Brexit plans after attacking the Government
EMILY THORNBERRY was left red-faced on Question Time last night after she was accused of not knowing her party's true position on Brexit.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary was pressed by the BBC veteran David Dimbleby over what Labour thought about leaving the Single Market.
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The studio audience cheered and whooped when he said: "When you say the Government doesn't know what it's going to do, I was just thinking about what Labour wants to do about the EU.
"You don't seem to know either..."
He went on to point out the differing positions between her comments and the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell's.
Mr Dimbleby quoted her as saying: "the idea of leaving the Single Market worries me a great deal and I think it could be reckless."
But Mr McDonnell has said that "Continued membership of the Single Market isn't respecting the result of the referendum."
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The audience laughed when she started to explain the party's line, which is that Britain SHOULD leave the Single Market.
Ms Thornberry argued: ";Our priority has always been the safety and security of our citizens, and then the economy.
"It means that we have to have red-tape free, tariff free access to the Single Market because we need to be looking after the economy more than anything else."
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But Mr Dimbleby pressed her on her comments further.
He said: "Sorry, did you not say that the idea of leaving the Single Market could be reckless?"
"I think it depends," she replied.
"Did you say that?" he went on.
"I don't remember saying that," she admitted, before the BBC host showed her the quotes in full - to more audience jeers.
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Brexit talks are set to begin next Monday, the Government announced yesterday.
They will begin with talks on the timetable for the negotiations, and securing the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens abroad.
However, some Conservatives are using last week's election result to try and secure a so-called "softer Brexit".
At least six senior Conservatives have openly called for a rethink in the PM’s approach to Brexit talks – demanding that Labour and other parties should have a say in the final deal.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said the election meant the Government should “look again at issues like Brexit”.
Nicky Morgan, Anna Soubry and Alistair Burt – three ex-ministers who left the Government last year – said the PM must now “compromise” on her Brexit plans.
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