John McDonnell calls the Independent Group ‘completely irrelevant’ and insists Labour was already backing new Brexit referendum
‘I get on the bus, I get on the Tube ... I get a bit of banter from constituents, people are coming up with their different issues. Not one of them has raised this’
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Your support makes all the difference.John McDonnell has branded The Independent Group of MPs “completely irrelevant” and insisted Labour was backing a fresh Brexit referendum even before the split.
In provocative comments, the shadow chancellor claimed the public was already ignoring the would-be centrist party and called the defection of eight Labour MPs “absolutely futile”.
The dramatic split is widely credited with sparking Jeremy Corbyn’s sudden outright support for a new public vote on Brexit, as he desperately sought to prevent further walkouts two weeks ago.
The Independent Group (TIG) has also hurt Labour in the polls, with 30 per cent of people ready to vote for a candidate in their constituencies, according to weekend research for The Independent.
But Mr McDonnell said: “I think it will be not just a waste of time for them personally but also for any others who support them as well.”
Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Dundee, he added: “The Independent Group is looking increasingly as being completely irrelevant.
“I’ve not found in the meetings I have been doing people are even talking about them anymore.
“I get on the bus, I get on the tube and I get on the train into work, and in the constituency and even on the tube and train, I get a bit of banter from constituents, people are coming up with their different issues. Not one of them has raised this.”
Today, The Independent Group will table an amendment to tomorrow’s “meaningful vote” to try to force an extension of Article 50 and a second referendum “by the end of September at the latest”.
Labour has stepped back from that immediate clash, insisting it is better to concentrate on a second defeat for Theresa May’s deal and vetoing a no-deal Brexit.
But Mr McDonnell said he was “perplexed” that Brexit was a reason for the defections, insisting the issue was “no longer relevant”.
“The week after they had left us we then moved to the position, exactly as agreed by Labour Party conference, where we were calling for a People’s Vote,” he argued.
“So it just seemed completely futile that they left for that reason.”
Mr McDonnell was commenting ahead of a speech today on what should be the priorities for Wednesday spring statement, to be delivered by the chancellor Philip Hammond.
The event has been overshadowed by this week’s series of crucial Brexit votes, but will set the government further down the road to its promise to end austerity.
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