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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/02/jeremy-corbyn-labour-election-northern-vote-no-deal-brexit
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| Corbyn courts northern vote and renews pledge on no-deal Brexit | Corbyn courts northern vote and renews pledge on no-deal Brexit |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn’s attempts to put Labour on a general election footing were undermined on Monday as splits within its most senior ranks emerged over the timing and priority of another poll. | Jeremy Corbyn’s attempts to put Labour on a general election footing were undermined on Monday as splits within its most senior ranks emerged over the timing and priority of another poll. |
| A series of contradictory positions on how to approach a general election were delivered by shadow cabinet figures in a fractious 24 hours, with confusion over whether legislation to block no deal should take precedence. | A series of contradictory positions on how to approach a general election were delivered by shadow cabinet figures in a fractious 24 hours, with confusion over whether legislation to block no deal should take precedence. |
| However, in a wide-ranging speech in Salford on Monday that was largely seen as a pitch to prospective voters in a snap election, Corbyn focused on the party’s manifesto promises and support for the north of England. | However, in a wide-ranging speech in Salford on Monday that was largely seen as a pitch to prospective voters in a snap election, Corbyn focused on the party’s manifesto promises and support for the north of England. |
| He said the priority was trying to block no deal with a piece of cross-party legislation to be laid in the Commons on Tuesday. | He said the priority was trying to block no deal with a piece of cross-party legislation to be laid in the Commons on Tuesday. |
| Corbyn is due to host leaders of opposition parties in his offices on Tuesday morning to discuss the measure ahead of it being introduced to parliament. MPs attending are understood to include the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, Ian Blackford of the SNP, Liz Saville Roberts of Plaid Cymru, Anna Soubry of Change UK and the Greens’ Caroline Lucas. | Corbyn is due to host leaders of opposition parties in his offices on Tuesday morning to discuss the measure ahead of it being introduced to parliament. MPs attending are understood to include the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, Ian Blackford of the SNP, Liz Saville Roberts of Plaid Cymru, Anna Soubry of Change UK and the Greens’ Caroline Lucas. |
| Despite the push to legislate against no deal, when the Labour leader was asked in Salford if he would back a general election he said he would, even in the circumstances where the prime minister puts it forward for a vote himself. | Despite the push to legislate against no deal, when the Labour leader was asked in Salford if he would back a general election he said he would, even in the circumstances where the prime minister puts it forward for a vote himself. |
| In an off-camera remark to Sky News at the event in Salford, Corbyn said: “Of course, we are the opposition party, we want a general election.” | In an off-camera remark to Sky News at the event in Salford, Corbyn said: “Of course, we are the opposition party, we want a general election.” |
| However an hour later Jenny Chapman, a shadow Brexit minister, told the BBC that an election was secondary. | However an hour later Jenny Chapman, a shadow Brexit minister, told the BBC that an election was secondary. |
| She said: “Our mission here is to prevent no deal. We do want a general election … Our mission is very clear, and it is about preventing no deal. If that means that a general election cannot happen at that particular point then stopping no deal must come first.” | She said: “Our mission here is to prevent no deal. We do want a general election … Our mission is very clear, and it is about preventing no deal. If that means that a general election cannot happen at that particular point then stopping no deal must come first.” |
| A senior Labour source said last night that avoiding no deal and wanting a general election could run concurrently as party policies and discussion about timing is an attempt to “split hairs”. | A senior Labour source said last night that avoiding no deal and wanting a general election could run concurrently as party policies and discussion about timing is an attempt to “split hairs”. |
| Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, said on Sunday the party had “one plan” to stop no deal through legislation. | Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, said on Sunday the party had “one plan” to stop no deal through legislation. |
| Earlier on Monday, the shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said Labour was working with other parties to deliver the no-deal legislation in parliament but also supported a general election. She said the shadow cabinet was working on a bigger manifesto than Labour’s 2017 platform. | Earlier on Monday, the shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said Labour was working with other parties to deliver the no-deal legislation in parliament but also supported a general election. She said the shadow cabinet was working on a bigger manifesto than Labour’s 2017 platform. |
| However the Labour leadership faced criticism for its desire for an election. Former frontbencher Owen Smith, who challenged Corbyn for the party leadership in 2016, tweeted that Corbyn should not fall for Johnson’s stratagem that could serve to sure up and deliver his vision of a hard Brexit. | |
| And the former Labour prime minister Tony Blair gave a speech to the Institute for Government in which he urged against the “elephant trap” of an election before the UK’s departure from the EU is resolved and warned that polling indicated Labour were unlikely to win. | |
| Corbyn used his speech to warn that a no-deal Brexit would be a gift for Donald Trump. | Corbyn used his speech to warn that a no-deal Brexit would be a gift for Donald Trump. |
| He also touched on the majority of the party’s policy areas during the 30-minute address and focused particularly on pledges for the north of England, in what could be seen as overtures to Labour supporters in leave-voting areas. | |
| Promises to invest in Crossrail in the north, which would link Liverpool and Hull, received a cheer from the audience, and he also pledged to rebalance the economy away from London, reverse council cuts and invest in manufacturing. | Promises to invest in Crossrail in the north, which would link Liverpool and Hull, received a cheer from the audience, and he also pledged to rebalance the economy away from London, reverse council cuts and invest in manufacturing. |
| Corbyn said Labour was prepared to work with other parties to stop no deal and would deliver details of the legislation on Tuesday morning. “We will do everything we can to stop a no-deal exit from the European Union. That is our priority,” he said. | Corbyn said Labour was prepared to work with other parties to stop no deal and would deliver details of the legislation on Tuesday morning. “We will do everything we can to stop a no-deal exit from the European Union. That is our priority,” he said. |
| A vote of no confidence in Johnson also remained on the table, he said, adding: “We will do everything we can in the coming weeks to prevent a no deal. We want a general election so the people of this country can decide their future and we are very clear that we would in the Labour manifesto include a public vote under a Labour government with the option of remain or whatever alternative parliament has come to. | |
| “If it’s no deal then we vote to remain. If it’s any other deal then our party’s democratic processes will decide what position we take.” | “If it’s no deal then we vote to remain. If it’s any other deal then our party’s democratic processes will decide what position we take.” |
| Long-Bailey told the Guardian: “Ultimately we are in a position now where we’ve got to put country before party to stop a no-deal Brexit from happening and any MP shouldn’t be precious about what piece of legislation [is put] down as long as it does what it says on the tin.” | Long-Bailey told the Guardian: “Ultimately we are in a position now where we’ve got to put country before party to stop a no-deal Brexit from happening and any MP shouldn’t be precious about what piece of legislation [is put] down as long as it does what it says on the tin.” |
| The shadow cabinet met in Salford on Monday afternoon to finalise their position on backing legislation to stop no deal. A source said there had been a “bit of back and forth” between MPs but they had galvanised around the proposed no-deal legislation. | |
| “We haven’t had any push back on the bill,” a source close to the shadow cabinet said. | “We haven’t had any push back on the bill,” a source close to the shadow cabinet said. |
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