Chancellor accused of 'rowing back on Brexit'

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has been accused of wanting to "row back on Brexit" after calling for a deeper trade relationship with the EU.

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In a speech at the London School of Economics, Ms Reeves said closer European ties would boost the economy and improve security.

But Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride dismissed the comments, urging the Labour government to "accept their poor choices" have led to economic hardship.

"It's no secret that Reeves and Starmer have wanted to row back on Brexit since day one," he said. "Labour is desperate to blame anyone but themselves for their economic failures.

"Under increasing pressure from their own soft-left colleagues following the Mandelson scandal, Starmer and Reeves would rather point the finger at Brexit than accept their poor choices have been a disaster for our economy."