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Labour conference: Brexit vote decision sparks anger Labour conference: 'Extensive' Brexit debate promised amid row
(about 1 hour later)
Pro-EU Labour MPs have expressed anger after no Brexit motions were chosen to be voted on at party conference. Labour is not trying to ignore Brexit at its annual conference, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has insisted.
Instead, delegates chose Grenfell Tower, rail, growth and investment, public sector pay, workers' rights, the NHS, housing and social care. He told the BBC the leadership had "no control" over issues chosen by members to be voted on, which include housing, rail, the NHS and pay but not Europe.
Party sources said there would be no vote on contentious issues such as single market membership. But he said there would still be an "extensive" discussion on the subject as Labour tried to "build a consensus".
But shadow chancellor John McDonnell said there would be a debate on Brexit and a "very thorough" one. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said pro-EU MPs were accusing the leadership of shirking a "full and bumpy" debate.
He said: "There will be the normal report from the national executive committee and if people want to vote on that they can." Although there is a session set aside for Brexit and international issues on Monday morning, the focus is on approving Labour's existing policy and there will be no vote on contentious issues such as the future of single market membership.
The eight subjects which will be voted on were chosen by local members and trade union members. Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum group had urged its members not to support a motion on Brexit, emailing them with an alternative list of subjects to choose. Brexit was not chosen by local members and trade union members as one of the eight motions to be voted on in Brighton.
Several Labour MPs tweeted their displeasure at the selection. The Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum group had urged its members not to support a resolution on Brexit, emailing them with an alternative list of subjects to choose - including the Grenfell Tower tragedy, rail, growth and investment, workers' rights and social care.
Mr McDonnell said the choice of resolutions was up to party members but there would still be a "robust and thorough" debate on a Brexit statement from Labour's National Executive Committee and the terms of exit remained a "key issue" for the party.
"The delegates choose their priorities and that is what they have done," he told BBC Radio 4's Today. "The leadership does not control that at all... the whole point of our party now is to hand our party back to the membership."
He claimed that Labour, which backs remaining in the single market during a post-Brexit transitional phase but then wants to secure tariff-free access to EU markets afterwards, was the "only party" capable of uniting the country after the UK's exit.
People were telling him that Labour had "to understand all the ramifications of the different options and then build consensus both in our the party but also the community itself".
He said a "consensus was emerging" that continued membership of the single market membership was not viable - given the obligations it placed on the UK to accept freedom of movement - but that a compromise might be possible to give UK firms equivalent access.
"Is there a way that reforms can take place that will enable us to have access to the single market? In that way, we can achieve a compromise within the community which gains us the benefits of the EU as it were and overcome some of the perceived disbenefits".
Several Labour MPs tweeted their displeasure at suggestions Brexit was being downplayed.
Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said the outcome was "utterly ridiculous" and former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw tweeted: "Keeping #Brexit, biggest issue of our time, off our #lab17 agenda is silly and undermines the claim that we are listening to our members."Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said the outcome was "utterly ridiculous" and former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw tweeted: "Keeping #Brexit, biggest issue of our time, off our #lab17 agenda is silly and undermines the claim that we are listening to our members."
Chuka Umunna, of the pro-EU Open Britain campaign, tweeted: "I can't believe no Brexit related motion is being debated at #Lab17 tomorrow. We should not be ducking this debate - we should be leading it."Chuka Umunna, of the pro-EU Open Britain campaign, tweeted: "I can't believe no Brexit related motion is being debated at #Lab17 tomorrow. We should not be ducking this debate - we should be leading it."
Labour said it had been up to delegates to choose which issues to prioritise, adding that there would be a session set aside for Brexit and international issues on Monday morning. Although Labour's ruling NEC will finalise an agreed statement on Brexit that delegates will be allowed to vote on in an attempt to defuse tensions, it will not commit the party to single market membership beyond the transition period.
However, this will focus on approving existing policy, with none of the separate resolutions put forward by delegates on Brexit selected. The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said that while minimising the opportunities for conflict might be seen as "politically clever", given the divisions in the party over Brexit, she said many MPs would find the situation "frustratingly vague".
One source told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg it was a "swindle" to suggest Brexit would be properly debated and discussed at the conference.
Labour's ruling National Executive Committee will finalise an agreed statement on Brexit that delegates will be allowed to vote on, in an attempt to defuse tensions.
But the BBC understands that while it will keep options open, it will not commit the party to single market membership beyond the transition period.
'Bespoke trade deal'
In a comment piece in The Times newspaper, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: "Subject, of course, to negotiations, remaining in a form of customs union with the EU is a possible end destination for the EU.
"We are also flexible as to whether the benefits of the single market are best retained by negotiating a new single market relationship or by working up from a bespoke trade deal.
"The public have lost confidence that this government can deliver the Brexit deal Britain needs. Labour are now the grown-ups in the room."
Liberal Democrat shadow Brexit secretary Tom Brake said: "Corbyn's anti-EU wing of the Labour party have won the day.Liberal Democrat shadow Brexit secretary Tom Brake said: "Corbyn's anti-EU wing of the Labour party have won the day.
"Labour have again shown themselves to be neither here nor there, unable to come up with a coherent policy for fear of their own internal politics spilling out into the public.""Labour have again shown themselves to be neither here nor there, unable to come up with a coherent policy for fear of their own internal politics spilling out into the public."
On Sunday, Mr Corbyn faced calls to commit Labour to stay in the EU single market and customs union after Brexit, but he warned this could affect the UK government's ability to use state aid to safeguard jobs.On Sunday, Mr Corbyn faced calls to commit Labour to stay in the EU single market and customs union after Brexit, but he warned this could affect the UK government's ability to use state aid to safeguard jobs.