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Labour conference: shadow ministers should quit if they won't back Corbyn on Brexit, says McCluskey – live news Labour conference: shadow ministers should quit if they won't back Corbyn on Brexit, says McCluskey – live news
(32 minutes later)
In her speech to the conference Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said Tory policies were to blame for rising crime. She said:
There is no question that the cuts in police numbers have contributed to the rise in crime. But other contributors are the cuts to education, the increase in school exclusions, all the zero-hours contracts, all the homelessness and inequality. All the cuts in mental health services have also played their part.
And these are all Tory policies. When they say they will lead the fight against crime – do not believe a word of it. They are the ones who have created the conditions for rising serious and violent crime. Senior police officers are increasingly going on record and saying that cuts to public services have created an environment where crime flourishes. Cuts have consequences. You cannot keep people safe on the cheap.
And she ended by saying Jeremy Corbyn would lead a “great, reforming government”. She explained:
We will welcome refugees, including child refugees.
We will proudly uphold the torture ban and treat the victims of torture with humanity, not detentions and deportations.
We will end indefinite immigration detention, and limit it to the 28 days MPs were originally promised.
And we will close Yarl’s Wood and Brook House detention centres and review the entire detention estate.
We will fund our police forces properly, and work to give our communities genuine security.
We will hold public inquiries into historic injustices – into Orgreave, into blacklisting.
We will release all papers relating to the Shrewsbury 24 trials and the 37 Cammell Laird shipyard workers.
I owe everything in life to the Labour movement. There was a postwar generation of socialists who campaigned against colonialism. There was the NHS orange juice and cod-liver oil. There was my free university education. And above all the chance to serve as Britain’s first black woman MP.
Speaking at a fringe meeting about how Labour can win back support in its heartlands, Jon Trickett – shadow Cabinet Office minister and MP for Hemsworth – said he was fed up with the argument that the people who voted for Brexit were from “backwards” communities in the north of England. He said:Speaking at a fringe meeting about how Labour can win back support in its heartlands, Jon Trickett – shadow Cabinet Office minister and MP for Hemsworth – said he was fed up with the argument that the people who voted for Brexit were from “backwards” communities in the north of England. He said:
Here’s the point I want to make. Those held-back communities – the heartland communities – can be found in Hastings, they can be found in Hackney and they can be found in Hartlepool.Here’s the point I want to make. Those held-back communities – the heartland communities – can be found in Hastings, they can be found in Hackney and they can be found in Hartlepool.
A very senior member of the Labour party she said to me ‘well, no wonder they’re all coming down south, the young people, because you can’t be gay up north’. That was said by somebody whose name you will have mentioned several times in the past few weeks. A very senior member of the Labour party, she said to me: ‘Well, no wonder they’re all coming down south, the young people, because you can’t be gay up north.’ That was said by somebody whose name you will have mentioned several times in the past few weeks.
He later said:He later said:
Those people who are suggesting that the people who voted or Brexit did not know what they were voting for infantilises 17m people. Those people who are suggesting that the people who voted for Brexit did not know what they were voting for infantilises 17 million people.
In his speech to the conference this morning Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said a Labour government would halt hospital closures pending reviews looking at clinical evidence and social impact. He said:In his speech to the conference this morning Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said a Labour government would halt hospital closures pending reviews looking at clinical evidence and social impact. He said:
Local hospitals and health centres are part of the fabric of society.Local hospitals and health centres are part of the fabric of society.
They are valued local employers. Often where our children are born, or where we finally say goodbye to our loved ones.They are valued local employers. Often where our children are born, or where we finally say goodbye to our loved ones.
Shut services down and something invaluable vanishes from a community.Shut services down and something invaluable vanishes from a community.
Of course, nothing stays the same, medicine advances, treatments evolve, new facilities are built. I think we all understand that. Of course, nothing stays the same. Medicine advances. Treatments evolve. New facilities are built. I think we all understand that.
But we need more capacity not less. But we need more capacity, not less.
So I can tell you cuts and closures because of Boris Johnson’s austerity will be halted, suspended and decisions reviewed based on clinical evidence and social impact instead.So I can tell you cuts and closures because of Boris Johnson’s austerity will be halted, suspended and decisions reviewed based on clinical evidence and social impact instead.
This is from Kay Boycott, the chief executive of Asthma UK, welcoming Labour’s announcement today that it would end prescription charges in England.This is from Kay Boycott, the chief executive of Asthma UK, welcoming Labour’s announcement today that it would end prescription charges in England.
We have been campaigning hard for years to stop the unfair prescription charges for people with asthma that are putting them at risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack, so it is hugely heartening that our concerns have been heard and the Labour party has now committed to scrapping prescription charges for everyone in England.We have been campaigning hard for years to stop the unfair prescription charges for people with asthma that are putting them at risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack, so it is hugely heartening that our concerns have been heard and the Labour party has now committed to scrapping prescription charges for everyone in England.
An estimated 1.3 million people with asthma have cut back on their medication because of the cost, which puts them at risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack. Hundreds of nurses have seen their patients have asthma attacks or need emergency treatment because they can’t afford to pay their prescriptions.An estimated 1.3 million people with asthma have cut back on their medication because of the cost, which puts them at risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack. Hundreds of nurses have seen their patients have asthma attacks or need emergency treatment because they can’t afford to pay their prescriptions.
This is unacceptable and unfair. No one should have to pay to breathe.This is unacceptable and unfair. No one should have to pay to breathe.
Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, told a fringe meeting at lunchtime that he also wanted the party to adopt an unequivocal pro-remain stance. He told the New Statesman event: Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, told a fringe meeting at lunchtime that he also wanted the party to adopt an unequivocally pro-remain stance. He told the New Statesman event:
We are at a vital crossroads, neutrality is not an option. The party should be unequivocally pro-remain. All Labour MPs should be whipped to campaign for remain. We are at a vital crossroads. Neutrality is not an option. The party should be unequivocally pro-remain. All Labour MPs should be whipped to campaign for remain.
For a more colourful insight into what Len McCluskey probably thinks about Labour remainers, it is worth reading The Fall and Rise of the British Left, a new book by Andrew Murray, the chief of staff at McCluskey’s Unite union, and a part-time adviser to Jeremy Corbyn. Murray writes:For a more colourful insight into what Len McCluskey probably thinks about Labour remainers, it is worth reading The Fall and Rise of the British Left, a new book by Andrew Murray, the chief of staff at McCluskey’s Unite union, and a part-time adviser to Jeremy Corbyn. Murray writes:
Brexit Derangement Syndrome, a fever which has long prostrated the Conservative party, now runs riot on the left and has the potential to destroy the broad-based alliance for progressive social change assembled under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of Labour. Were it to become a full-on ‘remain’ party, as many politicians and pundits want, setting aside the decision of the 2016 referendum, it would endanger decisive layers of time-honoured support now regarded as out of joint with the new enlightenment. It would be a Hilary Clinton strategy in short.Brexit Derangement Syndrome, a fever which has long prostrated the Conservative party, now runs riot on the left and has the potential to destroy the broad-based alliance for progressive social change assembled under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of Labour. Were it to become a full-on ‘remain’ party, as many politicians and pundits want, setting aside the decision of the 2016 referendum, it would endanger decisive layers of time-honoured support now regarded as out of joint with the new enlightenment. It would be a Hilary Clinton strategy in short.
There are plenty of other reasons why it’s worth reading Murray’s book. It doesn’t contain any Corbyn office gossip, but it is well-written, sometimes funny and probably the best guide currently available to the ideology at the heart of Corbynism.There are plenty of other reasons why it’s worth reading Murray’s book. It doesn’t contain any Corbyn office gossip, but it is well-written, sometimes funny and probably the best guide currently available to the ideology at the heart of Corbynism.
In his Sky News interview, the Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, also denied being involved in the attempt on Friday night to get Labour’s national executive committee to abolish the post of deputy leader. As PoliticsHome reports, McCluskey said the claim that he was involved (he and Watson are bitter enemies now, having once been friends) was “fake news”.In his Sky News interview, the Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, also denied being involved in the attempt on Friday night to get Labour’s national executive committee to abolish the post of deputy leader. As PoliticsHome reports, McCluskey said the claim that he was involved (he and Watson are bitter enemies now, having once been friends) was “fake news”.
Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, has also been calling for unity this morning. But, unlike his fellow union leader Dave Prentis, whose call for unity was broadly supportive of Tom Watson (see 12.58pm), McCluskey said that if members of the shadow cabinet like Watson were not willing to back Jeremy Corbyn’s line on Brexit, they should resign.Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, has also been calling for unity this morning. But, unlike his fellow union leader Dave Prentis, whose call for unity was broadly supportive of Tom Watson (see 12.58pm), McCluskey said that if members of the shadow cabinet like Watson were not willing to back Jeremy Corbyn’s line on Brexit, they should resign.
Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, when asked if he had a message for senior Labour figures who were arguing that the party should commit to campaigning for remain in any second referendum on Brexit he replied: Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, when asked if he had a message for senior Labour figures who were arguing that the party should commit to campaigning for remain in any second referendum on Brexit, he replied:
My message is to support the leader ... My message is to support the leader …
We must go into an election united. And when we have a policy on Brexit, and Jeremy Corbyn makes it clear that that is the policy, then that’s what leading members of the shadow cabinet should argue for. If they find that they can’t argue for it because they feel strongly, well of course they have that right, but they should step aside, and step aside from the shadow cabinet, which will become the cabinet, and they can argue whatever they want.We must go into an election united. And when we have a policy on Brexit, and Jeremy Corbyn makes it clear that that is the policy, then that’s what leading members of the shadow cabinet should argue for. If they find that they can’t argue for it because they feel strongly, well of course they have that right, but they should step aside, and step aside from the shadow cabinet, which will become the cabinet, and they can argue whatever they want.
But the policy and my appeals to them, and to Emily [Thornberry, shadow foreign secretary] and to anybody else is, support your leader ... But the policy and my appeals to them, and to Emily [Thornberry, shadow foreign secretary] and to anybody else is, support your leader …
If we get to a position where Jeremy is saying, let’s not make our decision on how we will campaign until we know what the deal [is], my appeal to her – support Jeremy and that’s my appeal to the whole of conference. If we get to a position where Jeremy is saying: ‘Let’s not make our decision on how we will campaign until we know what the deal [is],’ my appeal to her – support Jeremy and that’s my appeal to the whole of conference.
Asked if that meant he was unhappy with people saying the party should commit now to backing remain in any future referendum, McCluskey said he was if these people were “in the leadership”. He explained:Asked if that meant he was unhappy with people saying the party should commit now to backing remain in any future referendum, McCluskey said he was if these people were “in the leadership”. He explained:
In this situation ... in order for Labour to get through the message of unity and healing our nation, everybody needs to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Now if the leadership team – the shadow cabinet, soon to be the cabinet – find that difficult then yes they should step aside. In this situation … in order for Labour to get through the message of unity and healing our nation, everybody needs to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Now if the leadership team – the shadow cabinet, soon to be the cabinet – find that difficult then yes they should step aside.
A reminder: among those people who have been saying today that Labour should commit now to backing remain in a second referendum come what may are: Tom Watson, the deputy leader (see 12.39pm), Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader (see 12.16pm), and Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Labour leader and Welsh first minister (see 11.47pm).A reminder: among those people who have been saying today that Labour should commit now to backing remain in a second referendum come what may are: Tom Watson, the deputy leader (see 12.39pm), Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader (see 12.16pm), and Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Labour leader and Welsh first minister (see 11.47pm).
When asked what his message was to remain supporting Labour MPs, Len McCluskey says "support the leader" and argues that members of the Shadow Cabinet should "step aside" if they can't support Jeremy Corbyn's position #Ridge pic.twitter.com/Kwu7WSHyVVWhen asked what his message was to remain supporting Labour MPs, Len McCluskey says "support the leader" and argues that members of the Shadow Cabinet should "step aside" if they can't support Jeremy Corbyn's position #Ridge pic.twitter.com/Kwu7WSHyVV
The morning session in the conference hall has just ended. Delegates were supposed to have a series of votes – including on the private schools composite (see 11,26am) – but the votes had to be abandoned after a few minutes of chaos. The chair, Andi Fox, called a vote on a proposal to “reference back” part of the early years policy commission report. But two delegates used points of order to complain that they did not know exactly what bit they were referencing back, the chair was unable to explain, and after an outbreak of angry shouting from the hall she announced that all the votes would be put off until the afternoon. The morning session in the conference hall has just ended. Delegates were supposed to have a series of votes – including on the private schools composite (see 11.26am) – but the votes had to be abandoned after a few minutes of chaos. The chair, Andi Fox, called a vote on a proposal to “reference back” part of the early years policy commission report. But two delegates used points of order to complain that they did not know exactly what bit they were referencing back, the chair was unable to explain, and after an outbreak of angry shouting from the hall she announced that all the votes would be put off until the afternoon.
In the debate on health and social care Dave Prentis, the general secretary of Unison, urged Labour to unite, in an implicit criticism of the attempt to abolish the post of deputy Labour leader. He told the conference:
We all know, in our heart of hearts, that to save the NHS there is only one option: Labour has to win power. Divided parties never get elected. So we owe it to our NHS to leave Britain this week united ... What members need like never before is a Labour government. So less of the triggering, less of the denouncing, less of the deleting – that is the road to nowhere. Let’s get behind our leader, Jeremy, let’s get out there, get the NHS back in our hands, and our great party back in power.
Prentis went slightly further in a tweet on this subject yesterday.
Our sole focus at Labour Conference this week should be on taking the fight to Boris Johnson. What we need at this time is unity and a focus on winning the upcoming election. Anything else is a betrayal of UNISON members and working people everywhere who are relying on us.
And this is from my colleague Rajeev Syal, who has been at Tom Watson’s fringe event.
Tom Watson just told a fringe at #Lab2019 that he will fight Momentum’s founder who tried to abolish his position in the party issue - “I have got a message for Jon Lansman. I am remaining. I may have lost a bit of weight but I’m no pushover.”
These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
So while swathes of Labour members spending lunchtime at Remain rallies, whispers that leadership is trying to get its Brexit position agreed over email that it WON'T settle if Leave or Remain before an election - NEC not meeting in person
1. This is NEC Email...‘Please find attached the amended final version as recommended by Jeremy... Please confirm by contacting GSO if you accept. The deadline is 1.30pm. However if we have a majority of support before that time, then it will be agreed.’
2. So seems leadership trying to get members of NEC to agree party’s Brexit policy with a race to get email replies in, while those who disagree are speaking elsewhere at conference
3. Not really sure this is either the kinder, gentler politics or the kind of proper party democracy that excited Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters
Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, has been speaking at a lunchtime fringe meeting. According to extracts from his speech sent out in advance, he repeated his call for Labour to commit to backing remain in any second referendum. He said:
This week we have the opportunity to unite the Labour party around a position we believe in.
Jeremy Corbyn has been right to try to bring the country – both leave and remain voters – back together. Offering everyone in the country the final say is the best way to begin bridging this divide.
The vast majority of our members, our MPs and our voters want to remain in Europe. If we achieve a people’s vote, I believe our members, our MPs and our party will lead the campaign to remain. That’s not just because it is the best way of reconnecting with our voters, but also because it is the best way of standing up for our values.
We are a remain party. We are a European party. We are an internationalist party. That is who we are. Not perfect, not pure. But overwhelmingly committed to Britain remaining in Europe and reforming Europe.
By backing a people’s vote, by backing remain, I am sure we can deliver the Labour government the people of this country so badly need.
Attempts to reinstate a key “socialist” section of Labour’s constitution have been rejected, PA Media reports. A rule change aimed at restoring the original wording of clause IV was pushed by some members at the party’s annual conference in Brighton. Under this clause in Labour’s 1918 constitution, the party was committed to the “common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange”. But one such proposal to reinstate the original wording was defeated by 71.53% to 28.47% while another was rejected by 68.58% to 31.42%. As PA reports, both secured a majority of support among votes cast by constituency Labour parties but more than 99% of votes from affiliates – which include trade unions – opposed the change.
The votes were held yesterday, but because there were card votes, the results were only announced this morning.
And this is what Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, said on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland about whether Labour should back a second independence referendum in Scotland. The Scottish Labour party has in the past firmly opposed the idea, but in August Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said a Labour government in London would not object to such a poll being held. Subsequently Leonard and Corbyn agreed a compromise line.
Explaining the position today, Leonard said:
The Labour position going into the general election whenever it comes will be that we oppose the creation of a separate Scottish state, that we oppose independence and therefore that we oppose the holding of a second independence referendum.
Where there has been some discussion is around if there was to be a renewed mandate which showed not only electoral but demonstrable public support for the holding of a second referendum – then there would need to be some consideration given to that.
We had an independence referendum just five years ago and that’s got to be a factor in considering whether the circumstances are right for a second independence referendum to be held.
All of the evidence shows that even people who voted yes in 2014, even some people who are supporting the SNP, do not think that the time is now for a second independence referendum.
The circumstances under which the 2014 referendum were held were that the SNP had gained an overall majority – unprecedented, completely unexpected – and there was an understanding that there had never been an independence referendum and the time might be right to test it.
What I’m saying is I don’t see the circumstances today and I don’t see them in the foreseeable future where we would be back in that kind of space again.
Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, like his Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford (see 11.47am) has said Labour should back remain in any future referendum. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland, Leonard said:
The Scottish Labour party took a decision frankly in the wake of the European party election results that we needed to be much clearer, that we needed much greater clarity about the position that we were taking.
For that reason the Scottish executive of the Labour party backed my proposal that we call for an affirmative vote that any deal should go back to the public; secondly, that on that vote there should be a remain option; and thirdly, that we would campaign unambiguously for remain.
I would support the party taking that stance. I do think the time has come for clarity on this question and the Scottish Labour party, the Welsh Labour party take a similar view that we should be more overtly remain.
According to the BBC’s Norman Smith, tomorrow delegates are due to get a vote on two Brexit options – a composite motion saying the party should back remain in all circumstances, and a compromise motion tabled by the national executive committee setting out the leadership’s position.
So understand likely to be two Brexit options to be voted on tomorrow at Labour Conference. Remain v Corbyn/NEC special conf proposal
Here is the text of the NEC motion.
Here is Labour’s draft statement on Brexit, to be approved by NEC. It commits a Labour government to negotiate new Brexit deal within three months of taking office and then putting that to British people in referendum vote three months later. Importantly it says Labour will... pic.twitter.com/3h2HkYbRMb
The Welsh Labour party is firmly committed to the UK remaining in the EU in all circumstances, unlike the UK Labour party. That is also the position of the Labour-run Welsh government. This is what Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, told the conference in his speech this morning.
Faced with the deep and lasting damage this hard Tory Brexit will do to our country, we say it’s time to go back to the people in a second referendum with remain on the ballot paper.
And conference, I can tell you now that my Welsh Labour government will continue to stand up for Wales by campaigning wholeheartedly, vigorously and unapologetically, for Wales to remain in the EU.
Brexit has torn at the very fabric of the things we cherish, including the United Kingdom itself.
Those pursuing Brexit have used – and misused – the union for their own narrow and ideological ends.
To drive us away from the partnerships we have developed with our European friends over so many years.
We should be under no doubt that the voluntary union of our four sovereign nations here in the UK is under threat if we do not act.
Mark Drakeford tells #Lab19 that the Welsh Labour Party will campaign wholeheartedly for Remain in a future referendum. This should be the policy of the party as a whole! pic.twitter.com/bGvz31Mzus
The Labour conference is debating education at the moment. In her speech, Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, said a Labour government would be committed to the “integration” of private schools into the state sector. She told delegates:
That is why we’ll upgrade social mobility to social justice, turning the Social Mobility Commission into the Social Justice Commission. And we will set that commission to work on making the whole education system fairer through the integration of private schools.
John McDonnell and I will set out the further steps a Labour government would take. But I can say today that our very first budget will immediately close the tax loopholes used by elite private schools, and use that money to improve the lives of all children.
Quite what this pledge means in practice is not clear. As Rayner says, Labour wants to take away the tax advantages private schools enjoy, which would make private education more expensive, and perhaps as a result less desirable. But delegates want Labour to go further.
The conference is currently debating two composite motions on schools. One of them – Schools composite 1, moved by Battersea CLP – says “the ongoing existence of private schools is incompatible with Labour’s pledge to promote social justice, not social mobility in education”. It goes on:
Conference resolves:
To include in the next Labour party general election manifesto a commitment to integrate all private schools into the state sector. That would include, but is not limited to:
Withdrawal of charitable status and all other public subsidies and tax privileges including business rate exemption.
Ensure universities admit the same proportion of private school pupils as in the wider population (currently 7%).
Endowments, investments and properties held by private schools to be redistributed democratically and fairly across the country’s educational institutions.