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Brexit: John McDonnell warns Labour must shift policy | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has warned colleagues if they want to avoid a "slow motion car crash" they have to change policy on Brexit. | |
So far, Labour's shadow cabinet hasn't shifted its position on Brexit despite devoting two meetings to the topic. | So far, Labour's shadow cabinet hasn't shifted its position on Brexit despite devoting two meetings to the topic. |
Labour wants the public to have a say via a general election - or if that's not possible, then the leadership says the option of a public vote to avoid no deal or a "hard Tory Brexit" is on the table. | Labour wants the public to have a say via a general election - or if that's not possible, then the leadership says the option of a public vote to avoid no deal or a "hard Tory Brexit" is on the table. |
In effect, that means a vote on any deal that is negotiated. | In effect, that means a vote on any deal that is negotiated. |
There had been a widespread expectation that the party would shift position towards offering not just a referendum on any deal - but that it would make explicit that Remain would be an option on the ballot paper and officially endorse Remain, while allowing MPs to dissent. | There had been a widespread expectation that the party would shift position towards offering not just a referendum on any deal - but that it would make explicit that Remain would be an option on the ballot paper and officially endorse Remain, while allowing MPs to dissent. |
But this shift didn't happen on Tuesday. | But this shift didn't happen on Tuesday. |
A road to Remain? | A road to Remain? |
Following disastrous European election results - overshadowed only by the Conservatives' poorer performance - deputy leader Tom Watson called for Labour to become an avowedly Remain party. | Following disastrous European election results - overshadowed only by the Conservatives' poorer performance - deputy leader Tom Watson called for Labour to become an avowedly Remain party. |
Significantly, he now has support from the shadow chancellor John McDonnell - who is usually closer to Jeremy Corbyn. | Significantly, he now has support from the shadow chancellor John McDonnell - who is usually closer to Jeremy Corbyn. |
Mr McDonnell told me on Monday he felt it was time for the issue to be put back to the people, and he would campaign for Remain if there were a further referendum. | Mr McDonnell told me on Monday he felt it was time for the issue to be put back to the people, and he would campaign for Remain if there were a further referendum. |
He also cited Harold Wilson's 1970s government which called a referendum, officially backed remaining in the EU, but allowed any members, and indeed ministers, who wanted to leave to call for withdrawal. | He also cited Harold Wilson's 1970s government which called a referendum, officially backed remaining in the EU, but allowed any members, and indeed ministers, who wanted to leave to call for withdrawal. |
There's been pressure too for the leadership to adopt this position from others on the Left - notably the group Another Europe Is Possible, which is supported by shadow minister Clive Lewis and Momentum's national organiser, Laura Parker. | There's been pressure too for the leadership to adopt this position from others on the Left - notably the group Another Europe Is Possible, which is supported by shadow minister Clive Lewis and Momentum's national organiser, Laura Parker. |
They say the time for equivocation and hesitation is over. | They say the time for equivocation and hesitation is over. |
But apparently it isn't. | But apparently it isn't. |
Hesitation, repetition but no deviation | Hesitation, repetition but no deviation |
At Tuesday's fractious shadow cabinet meeting I'm told Tom Watson and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry pushed for "decisive action" - the latter saying "this is about leadership" - and John McDonnell was certainly under the impression that a decision was supposed to have been taken today. | At Tuesday's fractious shadow cabinet meeting I'm told Tom Watson and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry pushed for "decisive action" - the latter saying "this is about leadership" - and John McDonnell was certainly under the impression that a decision was supposed to have been taken today. |
Another left-winger, Diane Abbott, talked about rising discontent amongst the membership. | Another left-winger, Diane Abbott, talked about rising discontent amongst the membership. |
But in effect the decision to - at least - delay a policy shift was taken yesterday when unions affiliated to Labour met Jeremy Corbyn but came to no definitive conclusion on Brexit policy. | But in effect the decision to - at least - delay a policy shift was taken yesterday when unions affiliated to Labour met Jeremy Corbyn but came to no definitive conclusion on Brexit policy. |
Both Unite and the CWU don't want to adopt a "Referendum and Remain" stance, partly for fear of alienating Labour Leave voters. | Both Unite and the CWU don't want to adopt a "Referendum and Remain" stance, partly for fear of alienating Labour Leave voters. |
Some in the shadow cabinet agree - and party chairman Ian Lavery and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner expressed concerns about shifting position today. | Some in the shadow cabinet agree - and party chairman Ian Lavery and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner expressed concerns about shifting position today. |
So there will now be further consultation: first this week with members of Labour's ruling national executive - then with the unions. | So there will now be further consultation: first this week with members of Labour's ruling national executive - then with the unions. |
Their general secretaries will meet again on 8 July. | Their general secretaries will meet again on 8 July. |
'Muddle and confusion' | 'Muddle and confusion' |
I am told that John McDonnell believes it's vital that a decision isn't delayed beyond this date as he and others want any Brexit policy to be clear well before a new prime minister is installed on 24 July. | I am told that John McDonnell believes it's vital that a decision isn't delayed beyond this date as he and others want any Brexit policy to be clear well before a new prime minister is installed on 24 July. |
Phil Wilson - one of the Labour MPs behind a failed Commons amendment on a so-called People's Vote - said: "Labour members and Labour MPs expect our party to have a clear policy that reflects our values. | Phil Wilson - one of the Labour MPs behind a failed Commons amendment on a so-called People's Vote - said: "Labour members and Labour MPs expect our party to have a clear policy that reflects our values. |
"Instead, we have to listen to muddle, confusion and the sound of the can being kicked listlessly down a never-ending road." | "Instead, we have to listen to muddle, confusion and the sound of the can being kicked listlessly down a never-ending road." |
His colleague Neil Coyle, who backs another public vote, had a union general secretary in his sights. He suggested the Labour leadership wouldn't shift position unless Len McCluskey of Unite would shift. | His colleague Neil Coyle, who backs another public vote, had a union general secretary in his sights. He suggested the Labour leadership wouldn't shift position unless Len McCluskey of Unite would shift. |
But the 26 Labour MPs - mostly, though not exclusively, from Leave areas - who signed a letter to Jeremy Corbyn last week warning against a Remain position and a "toxic further referendum - will be pleased that pressure to move quickly has been resisted. | But the 26 Labour MPs - mostly, though not exclusively, from Leave areas - who signed a letter to Jeremy Corbyn last week warning against a Remain position and a "toxic further referendum - will be pleased that pressure to move quickly has been resisted. |
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