Labour’s McDonnell rules out deal with SNP over Indyref2
LABOUR’S shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has ruled out a second independence referendum if Labour win the next General Election.
Speaking in Glasgow, Jeremy Corbyn’s right hand man said the party would not be interested in doing any deal with the SNP if needed support to achieve a majority at Westminster.
While Theresa May struggles to get her Brexit deal passed at Parliament Labour is looking for the Tory troubles to lead to another early General Election.
He said: “When we win the next election we will win with a significant majority. If not we will govern with a minority government.
“We would lay out our policies and it would be for other parties to decide if they support them.”
On a second Scottish independence referendum Mr McDonnell said: “We opposed it in our last manifesto.
“We want a united country. It is a complete distraction.”
He appeared to rule out any change of that policy, adding: “We opposed it full stop.”
Instead he said Labour wanted to focus on issues other than the constitution whether it was Brexit or independence.
He added: “We want a united country. We have go significant levels of poverty, homelessness and people on zero hours with low wages.
“They are the issues we want to concentrate on.”
He added: “I am shocked by the low level of wages people are living on. Power needs to be redistriubuted.”
He said Labour would restore trade union rights that have been eroded by previous governments.
He said there has been a huge reduction in collective bargaining on pay from 80 per cen to just 20 per cent.
He added: “No wonder wages are stagnating.”
Labour has been criticised by some for not producing a clear alternative policy on Brexit and Mr McDonnell didn’t give any greater clarity, except to say we should “change the team” and re negotiate leaving terms with the EU.
He said he expects that could be done fairly soon and quickly.
The Shadow Chancellor also said Remain could be an option in a People’s Vote on Brexit – however he refused to say how Labour would campaign in the event of a second referendum on Brexit.
He said: “We will decide on what our position will be in a manifesto.”
Mr McDonnell did however say if there was to be another vote on Britain’s EU membership he would vote to remain.