Ed Balls: “Catastrophic” to enshrine free movement in a Brexit deal

It would be catastrophic for Labour to seek to enshrine free movement in a Brexit deal, Ed Balls has said today.

Balls, the former shadow chancellor and government minister, has urged Jeremy Corbyn not to “go backwards” in Labour’s Brexit strategy.

Balls, speaking on Peston on Sunday, has said the country has no idea what the prime minister thinks on Brexit. Whilst we’ve had opinions from David Davis and Boris Johnson, the most important person of all has remained silent.

“What does Theresa May think? The country is crying out for leadership” he said. Balls urged the prime minister to state what her “vision” for Brexit is. This does not mean her laying out “every detail”, but that we need to know “where we’re going”.

Balls, the former shadow chancellor and government minister, has said that “it is sensible for the opposition, to try to tie the government down to a view, to an approach” in order to “have a debate”. Whilst we know nothing of what May stands for, this will be hard.

Balls was also encouraged by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, in response to speculation and questioning about whether he will return to politics, that perhaps he could combine dance with politics.

“If you’re trying to get people enthused about politics… [why not] talk about politics whilst doing the paso doble”? Ranganathan said.