This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/19/momentum-wont-block-second-brexit-vote-debate-at-labour-conference
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Momentum won't block second Brexit vote debate at Labour conference | Momentum won't block second Brexit vote debate at Labour conference |
(2 months later) | |
Momentum has said it will not block a debate on Brexit at the Labour conference, meaning the party could see members back a second referendum on the conference floor. | Momentum has said it will not block a debate on Brexit at the Labour conference, meaning the party could see members back a second referendum on the conference floor. |
Last year, Momentum steered its delegates to vote on other topics, including housing, the NHS and rail, to swerve a possible vote on single-market membership which could have exposed tensions between the Labour leadership and members. | Last year, Momentum steered its delegates to vote on other topics, including housing, the NHS and rail, to swerve a possible vote on single-market membership which could have exposed tensions between the Labour leadership and members. |
Moment of truth: Labour's fraught path to MPs' crucial Brexit vote | |
In Liverpool this year, that will not be repeated, Momentum’s national co-ordinator, Laura Parker, said. “Last year, the context was very different. Now, it’s absolutely inevitable there will be a discussion on conference floor, I can’t conceive there won’t be – we’re 200 days away,” she said. “Without a doubt, there has to be a debate.” | In Liverpool this year, that will not be repeated, Momentum’s national co-ordinator, Laura Parker, said. “Last year, the context was very different. Now, it’s absolutely inevitable there will be a discussion on conference floor, I can’t conceive there won’t be – we’re 200 days away,” she said. “Without a doubt, there has to be a debate.” |
More than 100 constituency Labour parties have submitted motions to the Labour conference calling for the party to back a referendum on any final Brexit deal, which campaigners believe is an unprecedented number. | More than 100 constituency Labour parties have submitted motions to the Labour conference calling for the party to back a referendum on any final Brexit deal, which campaigners believe is an unprecedented number. |
The drive has been spearheaded by a number of leftwing groups, including Another Europe is Possible, Remain Labour, Labour for a People’s Vote and the student group For Future’s Sake (FFS). | The drive has been spearheaded by a number of leftwing groups, including Another Europe is Possible, Remain Labour, Labour for a People’s Vote and the student group For Future’s Sake (FFS). |
The final motion put to Labour conference is likely to be a compromise thrashed out between delegates from CLPs that have submitted anti-Brexit motions, trade unions and the leadership. | The final motion put to Labour conference is likely to be a compromise thrashed out between delegates from CLPs that have submitted anti-Brexit motions, trade unions and the leadership. |
Labour’s governing national executive committee could also offer its own statement as a substitute, rather than risk being defeated on the conference floor in Liverpool by grassroots delegates who support a second referendum. | Labour’s governing national executive committee could also offer its own statement as a substitute, rather than risk being defeated on the conference floor in Liverpool by grassroots delegates who support a second referendum. |
Momentum has not backed a new referendum and is cautious about doing so. Parker’s instincts are clearly pro-Europe, but she is wary of restricting the Labour leadership’s political flexibility. “We are waiting to see what motions come to conference floor,” she said. | Momentum has not backed a new referendum and is cautious about doing so. Parker’s instincts are clearly pro-Europe, but she is wary of restricting the Labour leadership’s political flexibility. “We are waiting to see what motions come to conference floor,” she said. |
Campaigners backing a second referendum have prepared comprehensive briefing packs for delegates and drop-in sessions during conference. | Campaigners backing a second referendum have prepared comprehensive briefing packs for delegates and drop-in sessions during conference. |
If Labour is serious about power it must back a people’s vote on Brexit | Polly Toynbee | |
“The red line is we have to have the phrase ‘people’s vote’ somewhere in the composite,” one campaigner said. | “The red line is we have to have the phrase ‘people’s vote’ somewhere in the composite,” one campaigner said. |
Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, an FFS co-founder, said the groups would co-ordinate their efforts. “The one cast-iron agreement across all the groups is that a people’s vote is the way to solve the crisis,” she said. | Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, an FFS co-founder, said the groups would co-ordinate their efforts. “The one cast-iron agreement across all the groups is that a people’s vote is the way to solve the crisis,” she said. |
Parker said she expected a compromise would be reached. “I don’t see a situation where Momentum says, ‘no, take this off the table.’ But that’s not the same of saying, ‘vote on the deal tomorrow’,” she said. | Parker said she expected a compromise would be reached. “I don’t see a situation where Momentum says, ‘no, take this off the table.’ But that’s not the same of saying, ‘vote on the deal tomorrow’,” she said. |
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, have already suggested the party will keep the option on the table. | The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, have already suggested the party will keep the option on the table. |
“My view, then, is that we should have a general election because, in a general election, people can not only debate the range of issues in full, they can also select the team that will then negotiate our future position,” McDonnell told a Mumsnet chat on Tuesday. | “My view, then, is that we should have a general election because, in a general election, people can not only debate the range of issues in full, they can also select the team that will then negotiate our future position,” McDonnell told a Mumsnet chat on Tuesday. |
“If we can’t get a general election, we are keeping the option of another vote – a people’s vote – on the table.” | “If we can’t get a general election, we are keeping the option of another vote – a people’s vote – on the table.” |
• A special report by Jessica Elgot on the grassroots movement within Labour for a second referendum will be published online tomorrow. | • A special report by Jessica Elgot on the grassroots movement within Labour for a second referendum will be published online tomorrow. |
Labour conference | Labour conference |
Momentum | Momentum |
Labour | Labour |
Brexit | Brexit |
European Union | European Union |
Labour conference 2018 | Labour conference 2018 |
news | news |
Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
Share via Email | Share via Email |
Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
Reuse this content | Reuse this content |