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Field, who quit the Labour whip earlier this year, is a long-time Eurosceptic. But in an article for the Guardian he said that he had been convinced of the merits of the UK joining the European Economic Area, the European Free Trade Association (Efta) court and negotiating a customs union, because of the difficulties of the parliamentary arithmetic.
He said he could not countenance the prospect of a “no deal” Brexit, with its threat to jobs and livelihoods.
The idea was first suggested by Nick Boles, the Tory MP and former minister who is a close ally of Michael Gove, the environment secretary. It was backed by William Hague, the former foreign secretary, and Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary.
Critics say it would not solve the impasse in the negotiations because the EU would be likely to still require a backstop in the withdrawal agreement to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland.
The Guardian understands that some Labour MPs in leave constituencies have been convinced the plan may be viable. One option under consideration is a backbench business debate on the idea, which would test the numbers who would be prepared to vote for such an option and if it could command a majority. [...]