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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. |