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| John McDonnell: Labour members did not want to split party on Brexit | John McDonnell: Labour members did not want to split party on Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| John McDonnell has dismissed controversy over the decision of the Labour party conference to exclude Brexit from a series of debates, saying this was the decision of members, who wanted to “build a consensus” on the issue. | John McDonnell has dismissed controversy over the decision of the Labour party conference to exclude Brexit from a series of debates, saying this was the decision of members, who wanted to “build a consensus” on the issue. |
| The shadow chancellor said Labour delegates had chosen instead to select debates on “bread and butter issues” such as health and housing, and did not wish to divide the party over Brexit. | The shadow chancellor said Labour delegates had chosen instead to select debates on “bread and butter issues” such as health and housing, and did not wish to divide the party over Brexit. |
| Speaking on BBC1’s Breakfast programme, McDonnell rejected the idea that the issue was being ignored. “I think you’ve got this wrong,” he said. “There will be a debate about Brexit, a very thorough one. Keir Starmer will be introducing it, there will be the normal report from the national executive committee, and if people want to vote on that they can. | Speaking on BBC1’s Breakfast programme, McDonnell rejected the idea that the issue was being ignored. “I think you’ve got this wrong,” he said. “There will be a debate about Brexit, a very thorough one. Keir Starmer will be introducing it, there will be the normal report from the national executive committee, and if people want to vote on that they can. |
| “But the way we organise conference now, the delegates themselves, no longer the leadership, decide on what motions they’ll debate, and that’s what the delegates have done. They’ve chosen other issues.” | “But the way we organise conference now, the delegates themselves, no longer the leadership, decide on what motions they’ll debate, and that’s what the delegates have done. They’ve chosen other issues.” |
| In his speech on Monday, Starmer trod a careful line on Labour’s position on the single market, saying the party in government would build “a new, progressive partnership with the EU” that mirrored single market benefits. “Options for achieving this should not be swept off the table,” he said. | |
| Starmer said remaining in a customs union in the EU “is a possible end destination for Labour” and said the party would be open-minded in its approach to the single market. | Starmer said remaining in a customs union in the EU “is a possible end destination for Labour” and said the party would be open-minded in its approach to the single market. |
| “We are 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,” he said. “No rash, ideological red lines preventing a sensible deal. Labour are now the grownups in the room.” | |
| Starmer’s speech followed a row on the opening day of the conference in Brighton on Sunday after it was announced that delegates had picked eight “contemporary motions” for debate and vote, including areas such as social care but not the party’s policy on the future relationship with the EU. | |
| This spared the party leadership a potentially embarrassing row. Campaigners had hoped to debate the idea of Labour fighting to keep Britain in the single market permanently and continue free movement, which polls suggest have widespread support among members. | This spared the party leadership a potentially embarrassing row. Campaigners had hoped to debate the idea of Labour fighting to keep Britain in the single market permanently and continue free movement, which polls suggest have widespread support among members. |
| McDonnell and the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, prefer to keep a more ambiguous stance, arguing for continued single market membership during a transition period but committing only to seeking access to it once Brexit is complete. | |
| Overnight, as MPs accused the party leadership of swerving one of the most important issues for a generation, Labour’s governing national executive committee drafted an 11th-hour statement on the party’s Brexit position, which members will vote to accept or oppose on Monday afternoon. | Overnight, as MPs accused the party leadership of swerving one of the most important issues for a generation, Labour’s governing national executive committee drafted an 11th-hour statement on the party’s Brexit position, which members will vote to accept or oppose on Monday afternoon. |
| The statement is expected to set out Starmer’s plan for a deal that replicates the benefits of the single market and praising the contributions of migrant workers, one that party sources hope will be enough to unite the conference floor in support, as well as countering accusations the party is avoiding any debate. | |
| Labour’s London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he wanted the UK to stay in the single market after Brexit. “I want us to continue to be members of the single market,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “If we can’t achieve [this], the less best scenario is us having access to the single market.” | |
| McDonnell argued that delegates did not wish to split Labour over the issue, saying: “On Brexit, the interesting thing is people are trying to build a consensus now, and not divide the party. And also, what I think is interesting – build a consensus not just in our party but within our communities. I think that’s the nature of the decisions.” | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Asked about this, McDonnell said: “All the groups send round their advice to delegates on what they think should be the priorities to be debated, whether it’s Momentum or Labour First or Progress or whatever. | |
| “But it’s the delegates themselves that decide. This is the nature of our party now. We’re saying that it’s the rank-and-file membership who will take the decisions and control the agenda at conference, not the leadership anymore.” | “But it’s the delegates themselves that decide. This is the nature of our party now. We’re saying that it’s the rank-and-file membership who will take the decisions and control the agenda at conference, not the leadership anymore.” |
| Asked about his idea of keeping the UK with some access to a “reformed” single market, including changes to freedom of movement, McDonnell said he hoped this would be possible. | Asked about his idea of keeping the UK with some access to a “reformed” single market, including changes to freedom of movement, McDonnell said he hoped this would be possible. |
| “We believe we can have a relationship with the single market that we think will overcome a lot of the perceived disbenefits that were highlighted during the referendum campaign, and gain and maintain a lot of the existing benefits. Again, that’s to be negotiated.” | “We believe we can have a relationship with the single market that we think will overcome a lot of the perceived disbenefits that were highlighted during the referendum campaign, and gain and maintain a lot of the existing benefits. Again, that’s to be negotiated.” |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, McDonnell said it could not be guaranteed that Labour’s position on the single market would be finalised if there was an election in six months. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, McDonnell said it could not be guaranteed that Labour’s position on the single market would be finalised if there was an election in six months. |
| “We’re building that answer now, but we’ve got to have consensus,” he said. “We can’t be in a situation where we try to impose a solution on the British people.” | “We’re building that answer now, but we’ve got to have consensus,” he said. “We can’t be in a situation where we try to impose a solution on the British people.” |
| Labour was working as fast as it could to “define the new relationship we’ll have with EU”, he said, including consultations with business and communities. The goal was, he said, “a compromise within the community that brings us the benefits of the EU, as they are, and overcomes some of the disbenefits”. | Labour was working as fast as it could to “define the new relationship we’ll have with EU”, he said, including consultations with business and communities. The goal was, he said, “a compromise within the community that brings us the benefits of the EU, as they are, and overcomes some of the disbenefits”. |
| He added: “We think we can build a compromise and consensus, The country was split down the middle – we’ve got to try and bring the country back together again.We think we’re the only party that can do that.” | He added: “We think we can build a compromise and consensus, The country was split down the middle – we’ve got to try and bring the country back together again.We think we’re the only party that can do that.” |
| Behind the scenes on Sunday, 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 on Sunday, 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. |
| The Labour 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 Labour 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, a strongly pro-EU Labour MP, said the party should “not be ducking this debate, we should be leading it”. | Chuka Umunna, a strongly pro-EU Labour MP, said the party should “not be ducking this debate, we should be leading it”. |