I figure some fudge is just enough to make Brexit work a treat
Shadow Chancellor on compromise
John McDonnell has pledged that his party’ s Brex it nightmare will be sweetened with a classic British fudge.
The Shadow Chancellor said the rows over the UK’s Euro divorce would be resolved with a compromise that leaves all parties satisfied.
On the eve of his keynote party conference speech in Dundee, McDonnell also insisted Labour wouldn’t have to depend on the SNP to take control at Westminster after the next general election.
Brexiteer McDonnell said Labour had to respect the EU referendum result.
Scotland strongly backed staying in Europe, with nearly two-thirds of voters backing Remain. And Nicola Sturgeon has warned she could hold a second vote on independence depending on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.
Labour are divided over Brexit with some figures – including former Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale – calling on the party to campaign for Britain staying in the single market.
But McDonnell said: “We have the same objective, which is to gain the advantages of a trading agreement that enable us to protect jobs and the economy. But our view is we have to respect the referendum result.
“I think a customs union as close to the single market as possible is the compromise with which we can reunite the whole of the UK. We are worried that there is still a division in the UK.
“What we want to do is bring people together rather than divide them again. We think we can do that with a t rad i t iona l Br it ish compromise.”
He added: “The issue for us is when is this Government going to fall so we can get on with constructive negotations with our European partners rather than the current behaviour of continuous threats from ministers about no deal and walking away f rom the negotiating table.”
When asked i f Britain quitting Europe could lead to a rise in support for Scottish independence, he said: “No, I don’t think so. We are members of the EU on the basis of a UK decision and we have to respect that.
“I genuinely think we can bring people together again on this.”
Opinion pol ls have put Labour and Theresa May’s Tories neck and neck.
But asked if a minority Labour government would work with the SNP, McDonnell said: “It isn’t going to happen. We are going to have a Labour Government with a working majority.
“We’ll be ready when the next general election comes.”