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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Labour: Jeremy Corbyn faces battle with members over Brexit policy | Labour: Jeremy Corbyn faces battle with members over Brexit policy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn faces a battle over Labour's Brexit policy later as members choose between two competing strategies at the party's annual conference. | Jeremy Corbyn faces a battle over Labour's Brexit policy later as members choose between two competing strategies at the party's annual conference. |
| They will decide whether Labour should explicitly back Remain in any future referendum, or adopt Mr Corbyn's stance of staying neutral until a later date. | They will decide whether Labour should explicitly back Remain in any future referendum, or adopt Mr Corbyn's stance of staying neutral until a later date. |
| Unison has broken ranks with other unions to back the Remain motion. | Unison has broken ranks with other unions to back the Remain motion. |
| The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said this could "shift the balance" and increase the chance of Mr Corbyn being defeated. | The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said this could "shift the balance" and increase the chance of Mr Corbyn being defeated. |
| With unions controlling half of the votes at the conference, their position is vital. | With unions controlling half of the votes at the conference, their position is vital. |
| The majority of Labour's 12 affiliated unions are expected to back the leadership after agreeing a joint position with Mr Corbyn two weeks ago. | The majority of Labour's 12 affiliated unions are expected to back the leadership after agreeing a joint position with Mr Corbyn two weeks ago. |
| But our political editor said Unison's move - now also followed by the Musicians' Union - was very significant, and makes it more likely that conference decides to back a Remain stance. | But our political editor said Unison's move - now also followed by the Musicians' Union - was very significant, and makes it more likely that conference decides to back a Remain stance. |
| Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the TSSA, said his union will back calls for Labour to support remain in the election. | |
| "We are an independent trade union, we tell the Labour Party what to do, it's not the other way round," he said. | |
| Labour's position on Brexit has dominated the conference agenda, with huge disagreements over the issue. | Labour's position on Brexit has dominated the conference agenda, with huge disagreements over the issue. |
| The party's draft plan for its Brexit policy, put forward by Mr Corbyn, suggests that, if Labour wins power in a general election, it would remain neutral while negotiating a new deal with the EU within three months. | The party's draft plan for its Brexit policy, put forward by Mr Corbyn, suggests that, if Labour wins power in a general election, it would remain neutral while negotiating a new deal with the EU within three months. |
| It would then hold a referendum within six months, and the party would decide which side to back ahead of that at a special conference. | It would then hold a referendum within six months, and the party would decide which side to back ahead of that at a special conference. |
| But grassroots activists at the conference have campaigned for an unambiguous Remain stance. | But grassroots activists at the conference have campaigned for an unambiguous Remain stance. |
| Late on Sunday, attempts to find a consensus during a behind-closed-doors "compositing" meeting failed to agree on words for a single Brexit motion. | Late on Sunday, attempts to find a consensus during a behind-closed-doors "compositing" meeting failed to agree on words for a single Brexit motion. |
| As a result, members will debate, then vote, on three separate motions on Monday, including one calling on Labour to campaign "energetically" for Remain. | As a result, members will debate, then vote, on three separate motions on Monday, including one calling on Labour to campaign "energetically" for Remain. |
| 'High emotions' | 'High emotions' |
| The leader of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, said Labour must avoid dividing on Brexit lines and follow the Tories and Lib Dems in "writing off half of the nation". | The leader of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, said Labour must avoid dividing on Brexit lines and follow the Tories and Lib Dems in "writing off half of the nation". |
| By keeping both Remain and Leave voters onside, he said Jeremy Corbyn would be able "to walk through the door of Downing Street" in the coming months. | By keeping both Remain and Leave voters onside, he said Jeremy Corbyn would be able "to walk through the door of Downing Street" in the coming months. |
| "Jeremy Corbyn is a thousand times right in trying to speak up for the whole of the country at this time of crisis," he said. "Please give Jeremy Corbyn the support he needs." | "Jeremy Corbyn is a thousand times right in trying to speak up for the whole of the country at this time of crisis," he said. "Please give Jeremy Corbyn the support he needs." |
| Addressing the conference, shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged the party to respect different views in a future referendum as a way of "bringing the country together". | Addressing the conference, shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged the party to respect different views in a future referendum as a way of "bringing the country together". |
| He said the answer to the Brexit crisis was more democracy, adding: "Some people will know I plan to campaign for remain....but I profoundly respect those who support a genuine alternative." | He said the answer to the Brexit crisis was more democracy, adding: "Some people will know I plan to campaign for remain....but I profoundly respect those who support a genuine alternative." |
| Other senior figures in Labour such as shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry - due to address delegates on Monday - also support a full-throated Remain stance. | Other senior figures in Labour such as shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry - due to address delegates on Monday - also support a full-throated Remain stance. |
| So why do the unions matter? | So why do the unions matter? |
| Quite simply because the unions control half of the votes on the conference floor. | Quite simply because the unions control half of the votes on the conference floor. |
| United, they really cannot be defeated. | United, they really cannot be defeated. |
| And Jeremy Corbyn thought he had them in the bag when a Brexit position - to stay officially neutral during a snap election - was agreed behind closed doors here in Brighton a couple of weeks ago. | And Jeremy Corbyn thought he had them in the bag when a Brexit position - to stay officially neutral during a snap election - was agreed behind closed doors here in Brighton a couple of weeks ago. |
| But now one union has broken ranks. | But now one union has broken ranks. |
| And size matters. | And size matters. |
| Unison is one of the big three…alongside the GMB and Unite. | Unison is one of the big three…alongside the GMB and Unite. |
| So Unison's backing of the Remain motion that means there is more chance of it passing. | So Unison's backing of the Remain motion that means there is more chance of it passing. |
| But to do so, the vast majority of grassroots constituency delegates would have to back it too. Most do support a Remain position at the election. | But to do so, the vast majority of grassroots constituency delegates would have to back it too. Most do support a Remain position at the election. |
| So the leadership are currently trying to convince some of them that they should put loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn ahead of their views on Brexit. | So the leadership are currently trying to convince some of them that they should put loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn ahead of their views on Brexit. |
| Even if the Remain motion passes, it won't automatically be the position adopted in the manifesto. | Even if the Remain motion passes, it won't automatically be the position adopted in the manifesto. |
| The final decision is taken at what's called a Clause 5 meeting on which Jeremy Corbyn's allies and loyal unions are well represented. | The final decision is taken at what's called a Clause 5 meeting on which Jeremy Corbyn's allies and loyal unions are well represented. |
| But even the policy is preserved, the optics of big unions (apart from Unison) outvoting the grassroots wouldn't be ideal - as Jeremy Corbyn initially came to power as a champion of ordinary members. | But even the policy is preserved, the optics of big unions (apart from Unison) outvoting the grassroots wouldn't be ideal - as Jeremy Corbyn initially came to power as a champion of ordinary members. |
| Andrew Lewin, of Remain Labour, said the prospect of alternatives being put to a vote was "a huge step forward". | Andrew Lewin, of Remain Labour, said the prospect of alternatives being put to a vote was "a huge step forward". |
| "Labour members will have the chance to change party policy - so Labour commits to campaign to Remain in all circumstances," he said. | "Labour members will have the chance to change party policy - so Labour commits to campaign to Remain in all circumstances," he said. |
| Michael Chessum, of left-leaning group Another Europe, said despite "underhand manoeuvring" by some in the party, Jeremy Corbyn would, "as a democrat", have to accept a pro-Remain stance if conference backed it. | Michael Chessum, of left-leaning group Another Europe, said despite "underhand manoeuvring" by some in the party, Jeremy Corbyn would, "as a democrat", have to accept a pro-Remain stance if conference backed it. |
| "If we allow another fudge to happen, we make Labour less electable," he told BBC News. | "If we allow another fudge to happen, we make Labour less electable," he told BBC News. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show on Sunday, Mr Corbyn would not be drawn on which side he would back, saying "let's see" what kind of new deal he was able to negotiate with the EU. | Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show on Sunday, Mr Corbyn would not be drawn on which side he would back, saying "let's see" what kind of new deal he was able to negotiate with the EU. |
| He said the party must respect the result of the Brexit referendum and do more to understand why people voted to leave. | He said the party must respect the result of the Brexit referendum and do more to understand why people voted to leave. |
| Away from Brexit, Labour has announced a pledge to introduce free personal care in England for over-65s most in need of it, so they will not have to pay for help with dressing, washing and meals. At the moment, only those with assets of below £23,250 get help from state. | Away from Brexit, Labour has announced a pledge to introduce free personal care in England for over-65s most in need of it, so they will not have to pay for help with dressing, washing and meals. At the moment, only those with assets of below £23,250 get help from state. |
| In his speech, Mr McDonnell also pledged to end in-work poverty within five years and to move to a four day, or 32-hour, working week within a decade without any cut to pay. | In his speech, Mr McDonnell also pledged to end in-work poverty within five years and to move to a four day, or 32-hour, working week within a decade without any cut to pay. |
| It is the latest of several new policies announced at the conference, including pledges to: | It is the latest of several new policies announced at the conference, including pledges to: |
| On Sunday, party members also voted in favour of integrating private schools into the state sector. | On Sunday, party members also voted in favour of integrating private schools into the state sector. |
| Independent schools would have their charitable status withdrawn, as well as other public subsidies and tax privileges, and universities would have to admit the same proportion of private school students as in the wider population, currently 7%. | Independent schools would have their charitable status withdrawn, as well as other public subsidies and tax privileges, and universities would have to admit the same proportion of private school students as in the wider population, currently 7%. |
| The vote means members have signalled a desire for the policy to be included in Labour's next general election manifesto. | The vote means members have signalled a desire for the policy to be included in Labour's next general election manifesto. |