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Version 12 Version 13
Brexit: Labour delegates debate rival motions for and against Corbyn's strategy – live news Brexit: Labour delegates debate rival motions for and against Corbyn's strategy – live news
(32 minutes later)
Kate Hudson from CWU says she is speaking in support of the NEC statement, “our leader’s position”.
When people are trapped in poverty and reliant on food banks, Brexit is drowning out the debates the party should be having, she says.
She says, when Labour debate, “there are no enemies in this room”. Labour’s enemies are in Downing Street, she says.
Sophie Wilson, a councillor from Sheffield Hallam CLP, says what her constituents need is a socialist government led by Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn’s policy could not be more simple, she says. She says the party cannot ignore the votes of those who voted leave. She says it makes sense to leave the decision to a special conference after the election. She urges delegates to support composite 14.
Duncan Enright says he is the first Labour mayor of Witney (David Cameron’s constituency when he was an MP) for a generation. He urges the conference to back composite 13. Labour’s position should be “remain, revoke, reform”, he says.
Gordon McKay from Unison says it is almost 100 years since the Daily Mail owner said hate was the way to sell newspapers. One hundred years on, not much has changed. He says Unison will be voting for composite 13. But he says Unison cannot be accused of not backing Jeremy Corbyn. It supported him as leader in 2015, and again a year later.
But Unison is committed to remain, he says.
He says Boris Johnson and the other Brexiters want to privatise services. Does anyone think anything will get better under Brexit? Labour has to come to a view, support a second referendum and campaign for remain.
Sophie Robbins from Twickenham CLP says trans people like herself have got more to fear than most from a no-deal Brexit. Hate crime has gone up since the Brexit vote, she says.
From the BBC’s Norman Smith
Understand USDAW will back all three Brexit motions. NEC statement, Remain motion and "middle ground" motion #lab19
Two of the Brexit motions - the NEC statement and composite 13 - are contradictory.
Catherine Pinder from the GMB says her union supports the Labour leadership’s call for a second referendum. She urges delegates to support the NEC statement. See 10.10am.Catherine Pinder from the GMB says her union supports the Labour leadership’s call for a second referendum. She urges delegates to support the NEC statement. See 10.10am.
Richard Corbett MEP is speaking now.Richard Corbett MEP is speaking now.
He says people should appreciate the extent to which Labour is united. It is united in opposing Boris Johnson’s Brexit, and united in wanting a second referendum, and united in saying it would campaign for remain against Johnson’s deal or no deal.He says people should appreciate the extent to which Labour is united. It is united in opposing Boris Johnson’s Brexit, and united in wanting a second referendum, and united in saying it would campaign for remain against Johnson’s deal or no deal.
The only difference is over what it would do if a Labour deal were on the table too.The only difference is over what it would do if a Labour deal were on the table too.
He says Labour has tried ambiguity. It tried it in the European election. But it haemorrhaged votes to the Greens and the Lib Dems, he says. He says it should commit to remain.He says Labour has tried ambiguity. It tried it in the European election. But it haemorrhaged votes to the Greens and the Lib Dems, he says. He says it should commit to remain.
After speeches for another foreign policy composite, the chair, Wendy Nichols, is now opening the debate up to speeches from the floor. She says she has about two and a half hours for the debate.After speeches for another foreign policy composite, the chair, Wendy Nichols, is now opening the debate up to speeches from the floor. She says she has about two and a half hours for the debate.
There was loud cheering in the hall for the two speakers backing composite 13, but also for the two who were backing composite 14. It is not obvious that one side has more support than the other.There was loud cheering in the hall for the two speakers backing composite 13, but also for the two who were backing composite 14. It is not obvious that one side has more support than the other.
Sion Rickard, from Aberconwy CLP, is seconding composite 14 now.Sion Rickard, from Aberconwy CLP, is seconding composite 14 now.
He says he voted remain. But he says the party has to unite. He says the papers would love it if the party did not support Jeremy Corbyn.He says he voted remain. But he says the party has to unite. He says the papers would love it if the party did not support Jeremy Corbyn.
He says delegates need to trust Corbyn and his team on this issue.He says delegates need to trust Corbyn and his team on this issue.
Alan Gibbons, from Liverpool Walton CLP, is moving composite 14 now. This is the pro-leadership one. See 10.10am.Alan Gibbons, from Liverpool Walton CLP, is moving composite 14 now. This is the pro-leadership one. See 10.10am.
He says, after this debate, Labour members will have to campaign together.He says, after this debate, Labour members will have to campaign together.
He says he voted remain.He says he voted remain.
The Tories accuse Labour of holding up Brexit. But who has been in charge? The Tories.The Tories accuse Labour of holding up Brexit. But who has been in charge? The Tories.
He says Labour will negotiate a better deal and give the public a choice. He says he personally will vote remain, but he will decide at the time.He says Labour will negotiate a better deal and give the public a choice. He says he personally will vote remain, but he will decide at the time.
People need a Labour government, he says. Labour must be able to talk not just to the 52% or the 48% but to the 99%.People need a Labour government, he says. Labour must be able to talk not just to the 52% or the 48% but to the 99%.
He says when he is on picket lines, or boycotting the Sun, or feeding the homeless, or kicking fascists out of Liverpool – they need Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. So he urges delegates to support composite 14 and reject composite 13.He says when he is on picket lines, or boycotting the Sun, or feeding the homeless, or kicking fascists out of Liverpool – they need Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. So he urges delegates to support composite 14 and reject composite 13.
Fiona O’Farrell, from the Labour party Irish society, is seconding composite 13. She says Labour should support the motion on behalf of the people of Ireland, who would suffer if the open border gets undermined.Fiona O’Farrell, from the Labour party Irish society, is seconding composite 13. She says Labour should support the motion on behalf of the people of Ireland, who would suffer if the open border gets undermined.
At the conference delegates are now debating Brexit.At the conference delegates are now debating Brexit.
Simon Hannah, from Tooting CLP, is moving composite 13. (See 10.10am.)Simon Hannah, from Tooting CLP, is moving composite 13. (See 10.10am.)
He says he joined Labour when Jeremy Corbyn became leader. He is a Momentum member. He is no fan of the EU, he says. He says when Corbyn gave the EU seven out of 10, he thought Corbyn was being generous.He says he joined Labour when Jeremy Corbyn became leader. He is a Momentum member. He is no fan of the EU, he says. He says when Corbyn gave the EU seven out of 10, he thought Corbyn was being generous.
But Hannah says it is clear nothing good will come from Brexit.But Hannah says it is clear nothing good will come from Brexit.
The Labour movement is opposed to Brexit, he says.The Labour movement is opposed to Brexit, he says.
He says he is worried about the Lib Dems at the elections.He says he is worried about the Lib Dems at the elections.
Comrades, we cannot win an election by not taking sides.Comrades, we cannot win an election by not taking sides.
He says postponing a decision about who to campaign in an election will just generate confusion.He says postponing a decision about who to campaign in an election will just generate confusion.
He is loudly applauded.He is loudly applauded.
Alongside John McDonnell’s speech, Labour has published two documents today fleshing out some of the ideas he was talking about.Alongside John McDonnell’s speech, Labour has published two documents today fleshing out some of the ideas he was talking about.
Here is a 28-page report (pdf) on universal basic services. McDonnell said Labour would expand the range of public services available for free. (See 12.25pm.)Here is a 28-page report (pdf) on universal basic services. McDonnell said Labour would expand the range of public services available for free. (See 12.25pm.)
And here is a 12-page briefing (pdf) on the plan for a national care service.And here is a 12-page briefing (pdf) on the plan for a national care service.
Here is the full text of Emily Thornberry’s speech.
Thornberry says it is not enough to address the injustices of today; the next Labour government must address the injustices of the past.
She says Labour would apologise for the first Amritsar massacre, and hold an inquiry into Britain’s role in the second.
Labour would allow the Chagos islanders to return home.
It would hold a judge-led inquiry into the UK’s complicity in rendition and torture, she says.
And she says she can announce two new pledges.
She says Labour would compensate black African and Caribbean veterans who failed to get the same demob as white soldiers after the second world war.
And it would pay a £50,000 lump sum to veterans who were exposed to radiation during nuclear tests in the 1950s. It is not just their health that has suffered. Their children and grandchildren have been affected too. These payments would help with medical bills, she says.
Thornberry says in government Labour would review arms sales. British arms should not be sold so they can be used to kill civilians abroad, she says.
Thornberry says “strong man” politics is an increasing threat to the world.
She says it is not a surprise when the “daddy of them all”, Donald Trump, is in the White House.
She says Trump is leader of the free world. But how can you lead the free world when you support locking up toddlers, when you want to stop women having control over their bodies and when you support the annexation of Palestine.
And she says no one has copied Trump more than the Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. When he came to the UK, they rolled out the red carpet for him, she says. She says they needed a red carpet “to cover up the blood dripping from his hands” from the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and from the slaughter of civilians in Yemen.
She says the age of impunity needs to end.
Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, is addressing the conference now.
She starts with a joke about the improbability of Boris Johnson being prime minister.
She says that, in a future referendum on Brexit, she would campaign for remain.
As [Peter Kyle, Labour MP for Hove] has said, we must fight with every fibre of our beings to say between now and October 31, and afterwards if there is a general election, that any terms of departure, from any government, must go back to the people for the final say.
They should have the option to remain, and I for one will be out there campaigning to remain.
And she pays tribute to her “friend” and neighbouring MP, Jeremy Corbyn.
We have been getting some more information from Labour about how the plan to introduce a 32-hour working week over a decade would work. (See 12.19pm and 12.21pm.) Here are some of the points that have emerged.
John McDonnell is not proposing a French-style cap on maximum working hours. He was persuaded by the arguments in the report from Lord Skidelsky on working hours (pdf) that Labour published recently explaining a cap would not work.
Instead, McDonnell plans to use two mechanisms to drive down average working hours over a decade - collective sectoral bargaining, and a working time commission.
The working time commission, based on the low pay commission (which oversees the minimum wage and the national living wage) would recommend increases in minimum holiday entitlements. Over time, it is envisaged that these would go up.
And collective sectoral bargaining - a landmark Labour pledge, which could have a huge impact how firms deal with their employees - would also play a part, because it would provide a mechanism by which working hours could be cut.
The average working week is currently 37.1 hours. Labour wants to reduce this by five hours over a decade. It views this as a political commitment, not a legally binding one. It is not planning to give every individual worker the right not to have to work more than 32 hours a week.
Part of the plan is to ensure that workers can benefit more from productivity increases. McDonnell believes that for much of the last 150 years or so increases in productivity led to shorter working hours. But in recent years workers have not benefitted from those productivity increases, he believes.
McDonnell does not believe that moving towards a shorter working week will cost jobs. He believes increasing productivity can make a shorter working week affordable. His team has not tried to produce costings for the impact of this policy.
A 32-hour woking week is equivalent to a four-day working week if someone works eight hours a day. But McDonnell is not presenting this as a move to a four-day week. He thinks in different sectors staff will want to reduce hours in different ways.
And now it has been confirmed.
The judgment in 'R (on behalf of Miller) v The Prime Minister' and 'Cherry and others v Advocate General for Scotland' will be handed down at 10.30am on Tuesday 24 September in Courtroom 1 https://t.co/yo4BzgEvdE pic.twitter.com/3LF96kYrlS
Turning away from the Labour conference for a moment, the legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg says we will get the supreme court decision as to whether Boris Johnson’s five-week prorogation of parliament was lawful at 10.30am tomorrow.
I understand the @UKSupremeCourt will indeed be giving judgment in the Miller/Cherry prorogation cases at 1030 tomorrow Tuesday.
Here is some Twitter reaction to the John McDonnell speech from journalists.
From the New Statesman’s George Eaton
This by far the most radical speech McDonnell has delivered as shadow chancellor: a four-day week, ending all in-work poverty, a National Care Service, restoration of full trade union rights, Universal Basic Services report launched.
From Sky’s Ed Conway
John McDonnell claims UK workers work longer hours than most other countries but I’d be v wary of this claim. OECD recently found it had been overstating the UK numbers. Actually the avg UK worker works fewer hours (38.4 hrs a wk) than the French (39) and the Americans (39.4)
From my colleague Jonathan Freedland
McDonnell going through agenda Labour want to fight election on - free personal care, rights to decent education, healthcare and environment, rolling back austerity - and which they wanted to dominate this conference. Instead it’s struggled against Brexit, internal rifts, etc
From ITV’s Robert Peston
Quite a lot of @johnmcdonnellMP’s programme seems predicated on UK remaining in EU - Europe-wide green new deal, end opt out from Working Time Directive. Not sure McDonnell is Brexit ambivalent!
From my colleague John Crace
John McDonnell taking his cue from Tories by making dozens of uncosted spending commitments.
From ConservativeHome’s Mark Wallace
Bear in mind that workers under McDonnell and Labour would also have to bear a higher tax burden, and fill the hole made by a massive Treasury raid on pensions as well. And we’re expected to believe we’d pay for all that and earn the same, all with 20% less work? Come off it.
Yasmine Dar, a CLP representative on the national executive committee, is addressing the conference now. She is moving the the NEC statement about Brexit. (See 10.10am)
She says passing this motion will not stop delegates being able to debate and vote on the other Brexit motions.
She says Brexit should not be allowed to divide the party. “Please, comrades, support Jeremy [Corbyn] on this issue,” she says.