John McDonnell denies ‘fix’ to block Brexit policy vote at Labour Party conference

John McDonnell has denied a backroom “fix” to block a vote on Brexit policy at Labour’s conference, insisting he is trying to “build a consensus”.

The Shadow Chancellor described the list of priority issues that will be debated – which excludes EU withdrawal – as “democracy at work”, because it was decided by delegates in Brighton.

Labour campaigners for permanent membership of the EU single market were furious after they were denied an attempt to shift party policy.

One, former shadow Cabinet member Heidi Alexander, branded her own party “a laughing stock” for ignoring the biggest political issue of the day.

But Mr McDonnell insisted the conference would talk about Brexit – although there will not be a vote on long-term single market policy, after a transition period.

And he said: “In our new politics, we are saying conference needs to be controlled by the delegates. They decide what we will debate, not the leadership. This is democracy at work.”

The row has sparked a warning from Labour’s elections chief that divisions over Brexit could tear the party apart in the months to come.

Mr McDonnell has said it is “difficult to see” how Britain could stay in the single market because of “exploitative” freedom of movement rules that allow employers to undercut wages.

However, in interviews ahead of his conference speech today, the Shadow Chancellor insisted he was working to achieve a united Labour policy – and quickly.

“We are building that answer now, but we have got to build a consensus,” he said.

“We can’t be in a situation where we are trying to impose a solution on the British people. We have to build a compromise in the traditional British way.”

That effort included talks with other left-wing European parties, which also wanted reform of freedom of movement, Mr McDonnell said.

The shadow Chancellor has said Labour would be in favour of maintaining membership of a “changed single market”, if restrictions on movement can be achieved.

Meanwhile, there would be “plenty” of debate on the party's stance on EU withdrawal, with the conference discussing a report being presented by Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer.

Delegates would be free to reject the leadership report if they chose, Mr McDonnell said.

The annual conference will vote on: housing, social care, the NHS, rail services, workers’ rights, investment and growth, public sector pay and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

The eight issues scored more highly than Brexit in the party’s “priorities” ballot of party members and trade union affiliates.

The bitter row was sparked by the Corbyn-backing Momentum movement urging its members to back other proposed motions, triggering accusations of a backroom fix.

Over the summer, Labour negotiated a united policy to stay in the single market for a transitional period of between two and four years.

Ahead of his speech to the conference, London mayor Sadiq Khan repeated his call for that policy to be permanent.

Thirty Labour MPs have signed an open letter urging the Labour leadership to show “the courage of its convictions” by supporting staying in the single market after the transition.