Mayor Sadiq Khan’s calls for London to remain in the EU’s single market and customs union have been slammed as “foolish” by Brexit secretary David Davis.
On Monday the Mayor commented on reports, denied by the Government, that ministers had agreed Northern Ireland would remain in both structures after the rest of the UK had left.
Taking to Twitter, Khan said: “Huge ramifications for London if Theresa May has conceded that it’s possible for part of the UK to remain within the single market & customs union after Brexit.
“Londoners overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU and a similar deal here could protect tens of thousands of jobs.”
Updating MPs on the collapse of the Brexit talks, Davis dismissed such a move which he warned would create “a hard border around the M25”.
He said that the Government was “emphatically not” considering separate deals for the different regions or nations of the UK and later added that “any regulatory alignment we get as part of Brexit deal for Northern Ireland will apply for the whole country.”
While most Londoners backed remaining in the EU in last year’s UK-wide voted, three boroughs voted to Leave.
Mr Khan’s comments suggest he’s wiling to ignore their wishes in order to champion the majority view of London, while simultaneously being unwilling to accept the majority view of all UK voters.
Asked why London leave voters should not have their wishes respected, a spokesperson for the Mayor said: “Sadiq fully accepts that some Londoners voted to leave the European Union and he completely respects their views.
“However, he does not believe that these Londoners voters for fewer jobs, less prosperity and less economic growth.
“The Mayor is determined to get a Brexit deal that protects London’s economy – and he believes that the best way to do that is by remaining in the single market and customs union.”
