'Do you have Stockholm syndrome?' Brexiteer DESTROYS Labour party over EU exit strategy

Mr O’Neill snapped at “bizarre” Labour MP Barry Gardiner after he defended his party’s decision to back calls for the creation of a post-Brexit customs union with Brussels.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for “new and strong relationship with the single market” maintaining the benefits of the single market and customs union despite Brexit supporters voting to withdraw from both schemes.

The pro-Brexit author said: “This is bizarre because the best argument I have heard against a customs union was made by Barry Gardiner last year.

“He wrote a piece in which he said a customs union would mean subjecting us to the continued, undemocratic rules of the European Union.

“I don’t know if you guys have Stockholm syndrome or something, but you have been completely bought over by this impetus to drag us back into some kind of European Union arrangement. I’m mystified as to how that has come about.”

Only last July Mr Gardiner suggested customs union membership could be “a disaster” for Britain and leave the country an EU vassal state.

But the Labour frontbencher appeared to fall in line with his party’s U-turn over the issue, saying the UK could negotiate to create a customs arrangement ensuring Britain becomes a “co-decision maker” alongside Brussels.

He told the BBC Any Questions? programme: “The proposal the Prime Minister has put forward in ruling out any customs union I think creates huge problems for this country.

“I think it was an innovative solution earlier this week when in the Labour party we put forward the idea that we would have a customs union but not like one the EU currently has where the Commission makes all the rules and the countries have to follow it.

“One where we are not rule-takers but co-decision makers in a customs union.”

This week Prime Minister Theresa May argued that a customs union with the EU would “betray the vote of the British people.”

During her third major Brexit speech at Mansion House, Mrs May set out a detailed blueprint for a close economic partnership which still ensures Britain regains full control of our borders and law-making.

She also warned Brussels to accept “hard truths” and end the stalling and posturing over a deal. Her speech was given a cautious welcome by EU leaders last night.