Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1537896643

Labour conference - as it happened: Brexit rows deepen as senior party figures make series of conflicting statements

All the updates from Liverpool, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Tuesday 25 September 2018 11:58 EDT
Comments
Keir Starmer at Labour conference: 'We do not accept that the choice is whatever the PM manages to cobble together or no deal'

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Labour members have overwhelmingly backed a Brexit approach that leaves a second referendum on the table, following a day of splits among senior party figures.

Delegates backed a motion that said Labour "must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote" on the penultimate day of the party's annual conference.

It came after Sir Keir Starmer received a standing ovation from delegates when he vowed "nobody is ruling out Remain" from the ballot paper in a new Brexit vote.

The shadow Brexit secretary risked reigniting tensions at the top of the party with the promise, which came after John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, appeared to rule it out.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, also said Labour should seek to delay Brexit by extending article 50, if it won a snap general election. But Jeremy Corbyn later told journalists that Brexit would happen on March 29 next year.

See below for live updates

1537889073

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 16:24
1537890907

Labour must kick out supporters with a “despicable hatred of Jewish people” just as it “beat the Blackshirts”, Emily Thornberry has told the party’s conference.

Full story here:  

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 16:55
1537891407

NEW: Jeremy Corbyn will pledge to extend his party’s free childcare offer beyond 30 hours for low-income families, ahead of his big conference speech tomorrow.

More here:

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 17:03
1537892619

Diane Abbott says the government is "in denial" about the impact of cuts to public services.

Addressing delegates at Labour conference, she said: "Tory austerity has damaged all our public services. All Tory cuts have consequences too.

"And their police cuts have consequences. You cannot keep people safe on the cheap."

The shadow home secretary says "privatisation and deregulation" led to the Grenfell Tower fire.

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 17:23
1537893156

Ms Abbott attacks the "bogus numerical targets" on immigration, saying only Theresa May believes they work. 

She's referring to Ms May's pledge to reduce net migration to the "tens of thousands", which the Tories have never met.

The shadow home secretary says: "We will always uphold our legal and moral obligations to Commonwealth citizens.

"We will not use the three million EU citizens currently resident here as bargaining chips.

"We will uphold their rights and the rights of British citizens resident in Europe."

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 17:32
1537893415

She also announced Labour would "insist on time limited, judicial warrants for any undercover policing". We wrote up the announcement earlier.

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 17:36
1537893512

Delegates are now voting overwhelmingly in favour of the Brexit motion that was hammered out in a fraught six-hour meeting.

It keeps the option of a Final Say vote on table.

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 17:38
1537894911

Main conference business is now over for the day. Thanks for following The Independent's liveblog.

We will be back tomorrow for the final day of Labour's annual conference.

Lizzy Buchan25 September 2018 18:01

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in