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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/24/labour-conference-accused-of-ducking-debate-over-brexit
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| Labour MPs accuse Corbyn of ducking discussion about Brexit | Labour MPs accuse Corbyn of ducking discussion about Brexit |
| (6 days later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn avoided an embarrassing row on Sunday over Labour’s position on the single market and free movement after party members voted to exclude Brexit from a series of debates at the party’s annual conference. | Jeremy Corbyn avoided an embarrassing row on Sunday over Labour’s position on the single market and free movement after party members voted to exclude Brexit from a series of debates at the party’s annual conference. |
| Delegates picked eight “contemporary motions” including on housing, the NHS and social care but decided against motions about the party’s policy on the future relationship with the EU. | Delegates picked eight “contemporary motions” including on housing, the NHS and social care but decided against motions about the party’s policy on the future relationship with the EU. |
| Campaigners were hoping to debate the idea of Labour fighting to keep Britain in the single market permanently and continue free movement, which polls suggest enjoy widespread support among members. | Campaigners were hoping to debate the idea of Labour fighting to keep Britain in the single market permanently and continue free movement, which polls suggest enjoy widespread support among members. |
| Momentum, the grassroots pro-Corbyn group, was thought to be highly influential in the result of the ballot because it emailed members to recommend four topics that were chosen. It justified the decision to leave Brexit off the list by insisting that the conference would debate and vote on EU policy on Monday – but this will not include the more controversial motions. | Momentum, the grassroots pro-Corbyn group, was thought to be highly influential in the result of the ballot because it emailed members to recommend four topics that were chosen. It justified the decision to leave Brexit off the list by insisting that the conference would debate and vote on EU policy on Monday – but this will not include the more controversial motions. |
| It came as Corbyn made clear that he was wary of committing to remaining within Europe’s internal market because it could prevent Labour putting in place domestic policy in the future. | It came as Corbyn made clear that he was wary of committing to remaining within Europe’s internal market because it could prevent Labour putting in place domestic policy in the future. |
| “We need to look very carefully at the terms of any trade relationship, because at the moment we are part of the single market, obviously,” he told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show. “That has within it restrictions on state aid and state spending. | “We need to look very carefully at the terms of any trade relationship, because at the moment we are part of the single market, obviously,” he told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show. “That has within it restrictions on state aid and state spending. |
| “That has pressures on it, through the European Union, to privatise rail, for example, and other services. I think we have to be quite careful about the powers we need as national governments.” | “That has pressures on it, through the European Union, to privatise rail, for example, and other services. I think we have to be quite careful about the powers we need as national governments.” |
| Behind the scenes senior figures said the party – which has a number of MPs representing leave constituencies but an overwhelming pro-EU membership – was determined to walk a “fine line” on Brexit during its four-day conference. | Behind the scenes senior figures said the party – which has a number of MPs representing leave constituencies but an overwhelming pro-EU membership – was determined to walk a “fine line” on Brexit during its four-day conference. |
| In particular, they are trying to rally around the argument put forward by Keir Starmer, who has suggested that Britain should stay inside the single market during transition and then replicate its benefits after a full exit. | In particular, they are trying to rally around the argument put forward by Keir Starmer, who has suggested that Britain should stay inside the single market during transition and then replicate its benefits after a full exit. |
| But the shadow Brexit secretary has been careful not to rule anything out. On Monday, Starmer will use a speech to claim that Labour are the “grownups in the room” on Brexit and must stand ready to “take charge of the negotiations”. | But the shadow Brexit secretary has been careful not to rule anything out. On Monday, Starmer will use a speech to claim that Labour are the “grownups in the room” on Brexit and must stand ready to “take charge of the negotiations”. |
| He will argue that Labour will respect the referendum result but put the economy first and be clear that it remains an “internationalist party; reaching out to Europe and the rest of the world rather than turning inwards”. | He will argue that Labour will respect the referendum result but put the economy first and be clear that it remains an “internationalist party; reaching out to Europe and the rest of the world rather than turning inwards”. |
| The party leadership will have to manage any possible fallout from pro-EU campaigners who were furious about the decision to keep Brexit motions off the agenda. | The party leadership will have to manage any possible fallout from pro-EU campaigners who were furious about the decision to keep Brexit motions off the agenda. |
| The motion on the single market had been championed by the pro-Europe MPs Heidi Alexander and Alison McGovern. After the topic was not selected, Alexander tweeted that she was “gobsmacked” and said the decision would make the party “a laughing stock”. | The motion on the single market had been championed by the pro-Europe MPs Heidi Alexander and Alison McGovern. After the topic was not selected, Alexander tweeted that she was “gobsmacked” and said the decision would make the party “a laughing stock”. |
| McGovern, who chairs the centrist Progress grouping, told a rally in Brighton: “I am gutted that our debate didn’t get through. I worry this it’s going to mean that our party isn’t going to be able to consider the biggest issue facing us for a generation.” | McGovern, who chairs the centrist Progress grouping, told a rally in Brighton: “I am gutted that our debate didn’t get through. I worry this it’s going to mean that our party isn’t going to be able to consider the biggest issue facing us for a generation.” |
| Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow City minister, also questioned the vote, calling it “a strange decision”. | Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow City minister, also questioned the vote, calling it “a strange decision”. |
| Chuka Umunna said the party should “not be ducking this debate, we should be leading it”. | Chuka Umunna said the party should “not be ducking this debate, we should be leading it”. |
| However, Momentum insisted that it felt Brexit was being debated and wanted other areas topping the list. | However, Momentum insisted that it felt Brexit was being debated and wanted other areas topping the list. |
| The group urged its members to vote for housing, social care, NHS and rail in the ballot as “crucial issues that the public care about”. | The group urged its members to vote for housing, social care, NHS and rail in the ballot as “crucial issues that the public care about”. |
| Some Brexit supporters were also surprised by the decision. John Mann, the Bassetlaw MP who wants to end free movement, said: “This decision is wrong. We must have a debate in this party and the leadership must listen to the views of those ordinary union members who voted to leave.” | Some Brexit supporters were also surprised by the decision. John Mann, the Bassetlaw MP who wants to end free movement, said: “This decision is wrong. We must have a debate in this party and the leadership must listen to the views of those ordinary union members who voted to leave.” |
| The lack of debate on the single market and free movement motions could come as a relief to many at the top of the party hoping to avoid any public splits. | The lack of debate on the single market and free movement motions could come as a relief to many at the top of the party hoping to avoid any public splits. |
| However, the decision not to hold any votes on Brexit will open up the party to criticism that it has chosen to ignore one of the most defining issues of a generation. The SNP leader and first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called the decision “an abdication of responsibility”. | However, the decision not to hold any votes on Brexit will open up the party to criticism that it has chosen to ignore one of the most defining issues of a generation. The SNP leader and first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called the decision “an abdication of responsibility”. |
| Delegates picked the four topics recommended in the Momentum email, a sign of the grassroots movement’s influence among this year’s delegates. The other four topics were chosen by trade unions – Grenfell Tower, public sector pay, workers’ rights, and growth and investment. | Delegates picked the four topics recommended in the Momentum email, a sign of the grassroots movement’s influence among this year’s delegates. The other four topics were chosen by trade unions – Grenfell Tower, public sector pay, workers’ rights, and growth and investment. |
| The divide over Labour’s Brexit policy does not fall along traditional pro-and-anti Corbyn lines, however. Some MPs who have been critical of the leadership were relieved with the outcome. | The divide over Labour’s Brexit policy does not fall along traditional pro-and-anti Corbyn lines, however. Some MPs who have been critical of the leadership were relieved with the outcome. |
| Meanwhile, Michael Chessum, who had previously sat on the Momentum steering committee, was among those leading the Labour campaign for free movement. He said thousands of party members had signed up to the campaign and he would not abandon the fight. “We will come back next year – but we should also be clear about the urgency of the situation,” he said. | Meanwhile, Michael Chessum, who had previously sat on the Momentum steering committee, was among those leading the Labour campaign for free movement. He said thousands of party members had signed up to the campaign and he would not abandon the fight. “We will come back next year – but we should also be clear about the urgency of the situation,” he said. |
| “Migration is a difficult debate – but, sooner rather than later, the labour movement has to be able to trust in the collective wisdom of its grassroots.” | “Migration is a difficult debate – but, sooner rather than later, the labour movement has to be able to trust in the collective wisdom of its grassroots.” |
| The leader of the UK’s biggest union, Len McCluskey, predicted the Labour conference in Brighton would be the most united for decades, with Corbyn’s critics silenced and backstabbing by cabals of rightwingers halted. | The leader of the UK’s biggest union, Len McCluskey, predicted the Labour conference in Brighton would be the most united for decades, with Corbyn’s critics silenced and backstabbing by cabals of rightwingers halted. |
| “In my 47 years in the party, I have never seen it so united,” said McCluskey, adding: “I suspect this will be a conference like no other.” | “In my 47 years in the party, I have never seen it so united,” said McCluskey, adding: “I suspect this will be a conference like no other.” |
| The Unite leader is feeling vindicated after a turbulent two years in which both he and Corbyn were vilified by large parts of the parliamentary Labour party and the media. In an hour-long interview with the Guardian, McCluskey said he did not think there was now any “serious opposition” in the parliamentary Labour party to Corbyn. | The Unite leader is feeling vindicated after a turbulent two years in which both he and Corbyn were vilified by large parts of the parliamentary Labour party and the media. In an hour-long interview with the Guardian, McCluskey said he did not think there was now any “serious opposition” in the parliamentary Labour party to Corbyn. |
| The parliamentary Labour party had behaved appallingly, gripped by a panic that Corbyn was going to lead Labour over the precipice, he said. “Suddenly, they have realised that not only was that not the case but they themselves have been reinvigorated.” | The parliamentary Labour party had behaved appallingly, gripped by a panic that Corbyn was going to lead Labour over the precipice, he said. “Suddenly, they have realised that not only was that not the case but they themselves have been reinvigorated.” |
| He added that “the rightwing cabals in the Labour party” had been knifing Corbyn in the back. “We stood by him. Yes, I do feel some personal satisfaction and very proud of our union in defending him.” | He added that “the rightwing cabals in the Labour party” had been knifing Corbyn in the back. “We stood by him. Yes, I do feel some personal satisfaction and very proud of our union in defending him.” |
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