THE government is not planning to re-join the EU by the backdoor despite plans for closer alignment, health minister Karin Smyth has said.

She told GB News: “No. This is work that we are doing. We have reset the relationship with our European partners. That’s work that Keir Starmer has led.

“We know that, for example, exports have declined massively since Brexit, and things around our food and drink standards, making them more dynamically aligned with our European colleagues, help with those exports and forge that relationship with our European partners.

“But of course, anything that needs to come through will be coming through and subject to Parliament.

“We have ruled out a return to the Customs Union or the Single Market for the very reasons that you were outlining and forging that new relationship in the best interest of our economy, and particularly our business and industry, which have suffered in some of these areas, is the right thing to do.”

Asked about the delay on publishing guidance on safe spaces for women, she said a statement would be made today in Parliament.

She said: “The Education Secretary is doing a brilliant job leading the improvements around children’s wellbeing and education in her role as women’s and equalities [minister], and that is at the forefront of everything that she does.

“This particular guidance…does need to come out. We all want to see that the Supreme Court judgement was clear. The law is the law, and we absolutely accepted that, and the clarity that it brought.

“Later today in Parliament, there will be an updated statement on what needs to happen next, I understand from the Secretary of State, but she will continue to put the interests of women at the heart of the work she does.

“She has herself run a Women’s Refuge. She’s very passionate about rights for women, and the Equality Act in its widest form, all aspects of it. We support the rights, obviously, of transgender people as well.

“We’re very proud of the Equality Act, and that is at the forefront of what Bridget Phillipson does, and she does it very well.”