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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
What a different kind of customs union could look like under Labour

JEREMY CORBYN in his speech of 26 February called for “a” customs union with the EU. 

This should involve, he said, tariff-free access to the EU and incorporate all progressive EU legislation that defended workers’ rights, equalities, environmental protection and health.  

On the other hand, it should not be subject to EU regulations that would prevent Labour’s ambitious plans for industrial regeneration, including state aid, the proactive use of public procurement or, where appropriate, comprehensive public ownership of public utilities.  

  • Free movement of goods, services, persons and capital (including the right of establishment)
  • EU compliant rules on competition (including procurement rules)
  • Compliance with EU Court of Justice case law including rulings such as Viking and Ruffert that restrict rights to strike action and the recent ruling that requires freedom to employ (used to evade the Norwegian dock labour scheme).
  • No state aid or public ownership that distort competition
  • Observance of EU legislation on consumer protection, company law and economic statistics (important for what is categorised as public and private in terms of spending by government-sponsored bodies)
  • The payment of a financial contribution.
  • Direct or indirect taxation (specifically VAT)
  • Agricultural or fishery policy
  • Budgetary supervision and limits to borrowing and the rules associated with economic and monetary union.
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