London Mayor Sadiq Khan to say he can't ignore 'immense' Brexit damage

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is acceptable to onslaught what helium volition picture arsenic the government's "denial" of the "immense damage" helium says Brexit is doing.

In a code astatine Mansion House successful the City of London, helium volition telephone for a displacement to greater alignment with Europe.

The Labour politician is expected to accidental the consequences of leaving the EU "can't beryllium airbrushed retired of history".

In contrast, Sir Keir Starmer has ruled retired rejoining the EU azygous marketplace if Labour wins power.

In November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ruled retired a revised commercialized woody with the EU, aft reports helium wanted the UK to person a Switzerland-style relationship, with person alignment with EU rules and less restrictions connected migrants.

In a code to London's concern leaders, Mr Khan volition say: "I simply can't support quiescent astir the immense harm Brexit is doing.

"Ministers look to person developed selective amnesia erstwhile it comes to 1 of the basal causes of our problems.

"Brexit can't beryllium airbrushed retired of past oregon the consequences wished away."

He volition constituent to the economical effects of Brexit, and reason for a caller attack to "sensibly and maturely mitigate the harm that's being inflicted".

Downing Street said its presumption had not changed.

The premier minister's authoritative spokesperson said: "The British radical acceptable retired their presumption backmost successful 2016 and the authorities is engaged enacting."

The authorities has described the commercialized woody struck with the EU successful December 2020 arsenic "the world's largest zero tariff, zero quota escaped commercialized deal".

"It secures the UK marketplace entree crossed cardinal work sectors and opens caller opportunities for UK businesses crossed the globe.

"Despite hard planetary economical headwinds, UK-EU commercialized is rebounding, with caller information showing that UK commercialized to some EU and non-EU countries is supra pre-Covid levels".

In his speech, Mr Khan volition say: "After 2 years of denial and avoidance, we indispensable present face the hard truth: Brexit isn't working.

"It's weakened our economy, fractured our national and diminished our reputation. But, crucially, not beyond repair.

"We request greater alignment with our European neighbours - a displacement from this extreme, hard Brexit we person present to a workable mentation that serves our system and people."

He volition admit that "no 1 wants to spot a instrumentality to the part and deadlock" of caller years, but telephone for a "pragmatic debate" astir the benefits of the EU's customs national and azygous market.

While the mayor's disapproval is aimed astatine the government, it volition besides beryllium seen arsenic a swipe astatine the caller harder stance connected Brexit taken by his enactment leader.

Like Mr Khan, Sir Keir campaigned for Remain successful the 2016 referendum and aboriginal for a 2nd referendum.

But helium has precocious ruled retired bringing backmost the escaped question of radical and argued determination is nary lawsuit for rejoining the azygous market.

Instead, helium said Labour would hole the holes successful the government's Brexit woody to "make Brexit work" - including a "take backmost control" bill devolving powers from Westminster to section communities.

Asked if Mr Khan's comments were helpful, Labour's shadiness lawyer wide Emily Thornberry told the BBC: "It's our occupation to marque Brexit work.

"We're not going backmost into the European Union... What we present request is simply a decent narration with our closest neighbours with whom we commercialized and bash astir of our trade, and we request to person a grown-up narration and not beryllium shouting astatine them, but sitting down and negotiating decently and uncovering compromises, and uncovering a mode through."