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Labour conference: shadow ministers should quit if they won't back Corbyn on Brexit, says McCluskey – live news Corbyn heading for clash with Labour members by calling for Brexit decision to be postponed – live news
(40 minutes later)
The Mirror’s Dan Bloom has the text of the Brexit motion being proposed by Labour’s national executive committee.
OK, stand down re my earlier tweet. Two NEC sources now say the NEC statement on Brexit HAS been agreed. Here it is in full. pic.twitter.com/RPQT2yK33i
The wording is much the same as the draft circulating yesterday, but there are two changes. The new version adds references to the Good Friday agreement and to the rights of EU nationals to the paragraph about the Brexit deal a Labour government would seek to negotiate.
And the final paragraph now says:
The NEC believes it is right that the party shall only decide how to campaign in such a referendum - through a one-day special conference, following the election of a Labour government.
What’s new about this is the addition of the word “only”, which was not in yesterday’s text. It has the effect of firming up the message.
This means the leadership is heading for a clash with Labour remainers like Emily Thornberry, who want the matter settled now. (See 4.12pm.)
Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, has renewed her call for Labour to decide this week whether or not it will back remain in a future referendum. Firming up what she said in a Guardian interview last week, she told a HuffPost fringe meeting:
We’re all here [at conference]. I don’t see why we can’t make the decision now ... I think that this conference should thrash it out.
As the draft statement from Labour’s national executive committee shows, Jeremy Corbyn’s current plan is for a Labour government to negotiate a new Brexit deal within three months of coming to power and to hold a referendum within six months of coming to power. The party would decide at a one-day special conference after the renegotiation how it would campaign in the referendum.
The issue is due to be decided tomorrow. The conference will be asked to back the NEC statement, but many delegates will be pushing for a move to commit the party to backing remain in all circumstances. At least 80 motions have been submitted making this argument, and a meeting will take place tonight to roll these up into a composite.
In her speech to the conference Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said Tory policies were to blame for rising crime. She said: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.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 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:And she ended by saying Jeremy Corbyn would lead a “great, reforming government”. She explained:
We will welcome refugees, including child refugees.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 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.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.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 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 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.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.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 for Brexit did not know what they were voting for infantilises 17 million 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 unequivocally 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.