Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he does not want Britain to diverge from the European Union.
The Labour leader, who campaigned for Remain and a second referendum, was speaking at a leftie love-in in Canada last Saturday.
Sir Keir said: “Most of the conflict with the UK being outside of the UK arises in so far as the UK wants to diverge and do different things to the rest of our EU partners.
“Obviously the more we share values, the more we share a future together, the less the conflict. And actually different ways of solving problems become available.
“Actually we don’t want to diverge, we don’t want to lower standards, we don’t want to rip up environmental standards, working standards for people that work, food standards and all the rest of it.
“So suddenly, you’re in a space where, notwithstanding the obvious fact that we’re outside the EU and not in the [European Economic Area], there’s a lot more common ground than you might think.”
Former Brexit minister Lord Frost said it was “no surprise – but good to have it said”.
A Labour spokesman said: “That doesn’t mean we support dynamic alignment. We’re not joining the single market or the customs union. We will not be in a situation where we are a rule taker.”
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