Boris Johnson wants the UK to crash out of the EU so he can strike a “Trump-deal Brexit” on the NHS, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
The Labour leader used a speech in Corby to accuse the prime minister of aiming for a no-deal in order to “sign a sweetheart trade deal” with America and “create a tax haven for the super-rich”.
Corbyn also said if MPs “are serious about stopping a no-deal” on October 31 they must back a motion of no-confidence in Johnson and vote for him as caretaker prime minister of a national unity government.
But his speech, which had the feel of a pre-election campaign rally, was partly-overshadowed by Labour activists hectoring reporters who asked whether he would stand aside if MPs refused to back him.
Corbyn also backed an end to austerity, “radical” plans to tackle the climate emergency and underlined the party’s plans to end university tuition fees as part of Labour’s “national education service”.
Much of Corbyn’s attack, however, was focused on US President Donald Trump’s “America first” approach, with the Labour leader saying private US firms will be handed access to Britains health service under no-deal.
He said: “Boris Johnson’s government wants to use no-deal to create a tax haven for the super-rich on the shores of Europe, and sign a sweetheart trade deal with Donald Trump,” he said. “Not so much a no-deal Brexit more a ‘Trump-deal Brexit’.
“Have no doubt, no-deal would destroy people’s jobs push up food prices in the shops and open our NHS to takeover by US private corporations.
“That’s a price Boris Johnson is willing to pay because it won’t be him and his wealthy friends paying it – it will be you.”
He later called on Johnson to look at Trump’s conduct in foreign affairs, adding: “In case Boris Johnson hasn’t noticed DT does follow very closely an America first policy.
“He has done nothing to promote good will, support or good trade with any other country. It’s all about America first. I don’t want us to go down that road.”
It comes as the full Yellowhammer report was leaked to the media. It shows the extent of the damage crashing out without a deal could do to the UK, including months of delays at ports, an immediate hard border in Northern Ireland and a hike in the cost of social care.
But Corbyn himself came under pressure over Tory and independent MPs who have made clear they will not back the Labour leader as PM should Johnson’s government fall.
It has been suggested by Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson that a figure like Labour’s Harriet Harman or Tory Remainer Ken Clarke could instead take over. It has also been suggested that some Labour MPs could refuse to back Corbyn.
Activists shouted “no no no” and “what a disgrace” as Corbyn was asked whether he would step aside as potential prime minister, however.
Corbyn was forced numerous times to defend journalists at the event over similar questions telling reporter “I am defending your right to speak”.
“All the constitutional precedents are that when a government collapses it is the leader of the opposition that takes over,” he said. “There seems to be an awful lot of imaginative ‘what-ifery’ in the press at the present time.”
Corbyn also said that his party backs calls for parliament to be recalled in order to prevent Johnson carrying out a “manoeuvre” which would take the UK out of the EU “without any further discussion”.
He added that Labour would back a fresh referendum on Brexit.