"Disingenuous Claptrap"
The Labour Party's official position on Brexit is that the UK should leave the EU and its Single Market, but must continue to enjoy all the benefits of being a member of the EU and operating inside the Single Market.
Now that's like saying you plan to stop being a member of a trade union, but at the same time you demand to retain all the benefits of being a union member.
No trade union worth its salt would put up with that kind of nonsense, yet this is the official 'have your cake and eat it' policy of the official opposition at Westminster.
So little wonder John McDonnell was accused of talking 'disingenuous claprteap' when Jeremy Corbyn's biggest supporter trotted out this line again yesterday on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme.
Read the report below from Politics Home and visit its web site which has a video of John McDonnell making a fool of himself on the BBC.
87% of Labour Party members support continued membership of the EU Single Market and 78% of party members support a second referendum on the final Brexit terms.
'Disingenuous claptrap' indeed - well said Ian Murray.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/john-mcdonnell/news/92214/disingenuous-claptrap-john?
'Disingenuous claptrap' - John McDonnell sparks Labour backlash with single market comments
48 Labour MPs rebelled against the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (a serial rebel himself) whose softly, softly tactics in the House of Commons are paving the way for the Conservative Government to impose a hard Brexit.
Meanwhile 87% of Labour Party members support continued membership of the EU Single Market and 78% of party members support a second referendum on the final Brexit terms.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/92145/jeremy-corbyn-hit-fresh-brexit?
Jeremy Corbyn hit by fresh Brexit rebellion as Labour MPs defy whip on single market
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/john-mcdonnell/news/92214/disingenuous-claptrap-john?
'Disingenuous claptrap' - John McDonnell sparks Labour backlash with single market comments
By Kevin Schofield - Politics Home
A former Labour frontbencher has accused John McDonnell of talking "claptrap" after he suggested the UK could continue to enjoy the same benefits of European single market membership even if it quits the free trade agreement.
A former Labour frontbencher has accused John McDonnell of talking "claptrap" after he suggested the UK could continue to enjoy the same benefits of European single market membership even if it quits the free trade agreement.
John McDonnell was interviewed on the Andrew Marr Show - Credit: BBC
Ian Murray, who was Shadow Scottish Secretary, hit out after the Shadow Chancellor defended the party's decision to reject permanent membership of the single market after Brexit.
Other pro-EU Labour MPs also made clear their opposition to the party leadership's stance, as the party's splits on Brexit once again burst into the open.
Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr McDonnell said: "We would like the benefits of the single market. That's subject to negotiation ... It would not be the same single market, but access to a single market."
But Edinburgh South MP Mr Murray posted on Twitter: "What utter disingenuous claptrap. The EU has made it clear that you can’t be in a single market with “all the same benefits” without participating in “the” single market. If you want all the same benefits you have to be in it."
Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle suggested Mr McDonnell was on another planet.
Former Shadow Cabinet member Chuka Umunna also made clear his opposition to Labour's official stance.
A Labour source said: "Across the movement there is deep unhappiness at the party's position."
Nearly 50 Labour MPs defied Mr Corbyn last week to back an amendment to the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill calling for the UK to remain in the single market.
former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie said: "There’s a growing number of Labour colleagues who feel so strongly about the threat of Brexit austerity that they will - with regret - break the whip to defend the interests of their constituents. When it comes to the single market I hope our frontbench will get off the fence before long."
Ian Murray, who was Shadow Scottish Secretary, hit out after the Shadow Chancellor defended the party's decision to reject permanent membership of the single market after Brexit.
Other pro-EU Labour MPs also made clear their opposition to the party leadership's stance, as the party's splits on Brexit once again burst into the open.
Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr McDonnell said: "We would like the benefits of the single market. That's subject to negotiation ... It would not be the same single market, but access to a single market."
But Edinburgh South MP Mr Murray posted on Twitter: "What utter disingenuous claptrap. The EU has made it clear that you can’t be in a single market with “all the same benefits” without participating in “the” single market. If you want all the same benefits you have to be in it."
Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle suggested Mr McDonnell was on another planet.
Former Shadow Cabinet member Chuka Umunna also made clear his opposition to Labour's official stance.
A Labour source said: "Across the movement there is deep unhappiness at the party's position."
Nearly 50 Labour MPs defied Mr Corbyn last week to back an amendment to the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill calling for the UK to remain in the single market.
former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie said: "There’s a growing number of Labour colleagues who feel so strongly about the threat of Brexit austerity that they will - with regret - break the whip to defend the interests of their constituents. When it comes to the single market I hope our frontbench will get off the fence before long."
Labour and Brexit (19/01/18)
48 Labour MPs rebelled against the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (a serial rebel himself) whose softly, softly tactics in the House of Commons are paving the way for the Conservative Government to impose a hard Brexit.
Meanwhile 87% of Labour Party members support continued membership of the EU Single Market and 78% of party members support a second referendum on the final Brexit terms.
Corbyn needs to wake up and start practising what he preaches by listening to the views of ordinary party members rather than his own kitchen cabinet.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/92145/jeremy-corbyn-hit-fresh-brexit?
Jeremy Corbyn hit by fresh Brexit rebellion as Labour MPs defy whip on single market
By Emilio Casalicchio - Politics Home
Jeremy Corbyn was hit by a fresh Brexit rebellion tonight as dozens of Labour MPs backed calls to keep the UK in the single market and customs union after it quits the EU.
Jeremy Corbyn was hit by a fresh Brexit rebellion tonight as dozens of Labour MPs backed calls to keep the UK in the single market and customs union after it quits the EU.
Like the Tories, Jeremy Corbyn has insisted the UK must quit the single market and customs union after Brexit - Credit: PA Images
A cross-party amendment to the Government’s flagship EU Withdrawal Bill was rejected by the Commons by 322 votes to 99.
But some 48 Labour MPs voted for it against the orders of their party leader to abstain.
EXCL Jeremy Corbyn facing rebellion as Labour MPs launch bid to keep UK in customs union
SNP chief brands Jeremy Corbyn 'utterly pathetic' over Brexit stance
Dozens of Labour councillors call on Jeremy Corbyn to pledge Brexit rethink
Mr Corbyn suffered a similar rebellion in December when some 64 Labour MPs backed a separate bid to keep the UK in the customs union after Brexit.
One of tonight's rebels, former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie, said: "There’s a growing number of Labour colleagues who feel so strongly about the threat of Brexit austerity that they will - with regret - break the whip to defend the interests of their constituents. When it comes to the single market I hope our frontbench will get off the fence before long."
The single market amendment tonight - during the report stage of the bill - was tabled by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and was backed by the Lib Dems and Greens.
SNP MP Peter Grant said: "Today was a huge test for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party – and they failed miserably. Instead of voting with the SNP to prevent a devastating hard Brexit, Labour instead chose to sit on the sidelines, allowing the Tories to edge ever closer to the cliff-edge – putting the jobs, incomes, and living standards of millions of people at risk."
Like the Tories, Mr Corbyn has insisted the UK must quit the single market and customs union after Brexit, although he has said Labour wants Britain to maintain tariff-free access to the European market.
The Labour leader faces a battle within his own party on the issue - with 87% of Labour members wanting to remain in the single market according to a recent YouGov poll.
The Government won every vote tonight and a set of amendments tabled by ministers went through without a vote as the EU Withdrawal Bill faced its latest parliamentary hurdle.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "From the beginning our approach has been to work constructively with MPs from across the House wherever possible to improve the bill.
"This is a critical piece of legislation that aims to maximise certainty for individuals and businesses after our exit.
"We are looking forward to working with peers as the bill enters its next stage of scrutiny in the House of Lords at the end of this month."
A cross-party amendment to the Government’s flagship EU Withdrawal Bill was rejected by the Commons by 322 votes to 99.
But some 48 Labour MPs voted for it against the orders of their party leader to abstain.
EXCL Jeremy Corbyn facing rebellion as Labour MPs launch bid to keep UK in customs union
SNP chief brands Jeremy Corbyn 'utterly pathetic' over Brexit stance
Dozens of Labour councillors call on Jeremy Corbyn to pledge Brexit rethink
Mr Corbyn suffered a similar rebellion in December when some 64 Labour MPs backed a separate bid to keep the UK in the customs union after Brexit.
One of tonight's rebels, former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie, said: "There’s a growing number of Labour colleagues who feel so strongly about the threat of Brexit austerity that they will - with regret - break the whip to defend the interests of their constituents. When it comes to the single market I hope our frontbench will get off the fence before long."
The single market amendment tonight - during the report stage of the bill - was tabled by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and was backed by the Lib Dems and Greens.
SNP MP Peter Grant said: "Today was a huge test for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party – and they failed miserably. Instead of voting with the SNP to prevent a devastating hard Brexit, Labour instead chose to sit on the sidelines, allowing the Tories to edge ever closer to the cliff-edge – putting the jobs, incomes, and living standards of millions of people at risk."
Like the Tories, Mr Corbyn has insisted the UK must quit the single market and customs union after Brexit, although he has said Labour wants Britain to maintain tariff-free access to the European market.
The Labour leader faces a battle within his own party on the issue - with 87% of Labour members wanting to remain in the single market according to a recent YouGov poll.
The Government won every vote tonight and a set of amendments tabled by ministers went through without a vote as the EU Withdrawal Bill faced its latest parliamentary hurdle.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "From the beginning our approach has been to work constructively with MPs from across the House wherever possible to improve the bill.
"This is a critical piece of legislation that aims to maximise certainty for individuals and businesses after our exit.
"We are looking forward to working with peers as the bill enters its next stage of scrutiny in the House of Lords at the end of this month."
