Labour’s Brexit bust-up on eve of Dundee conference

Leaders decide there will be no vote on single market

Scottish Labour will not vote on whether to back single market membership at its conference in Dundee after a decision from its executive committee.

A “unity motion” containing no mention of the single market was unanimously supported by the Scottish Executive meeting in the city’s Apex Hotel late last night, which delegates will be able to vote on as the party puts forward its vision for Brexit.

It comes despite a new group in the party – supported by Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray, former leader Kezia Dugdale and MEP Catherine Stihler – calling for a policy of permanent membership.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “The Scottish Executive unanimously agreed a unity motion ahead of the conference debate on Brexit.

“It recognises that since individual motions were submitted, the situation regarding Brexit has changed significantly – Jeremy Corbyn has outlined a proposal that puts clear red water between Labour and the Tories and the SNP Government has introduced unprecedented legislation in the form of the EU Continuity Bill.

“This is a motion which takes cognisance of the fast-changing nature of the Brexit debate in Scotland and allows the party to unite behind a common goal – putting the interests of working people first.”

A senior pro-EU Scottish Labour source said: “It will be a democratic outrage if a vote on permanent single market membership is blocked in this way.”

Mr Corbyn will take to the stage in Dundee today to claim Labour are in line for an extraordinary resurgence in Scotland.

The UK leader says his party are poised to batter the SNP by more than tripling their Westminster seat tally to 27 – but he got into a muddle over how many they won last year.

In his speech to Caird Hall this afternoon, Mr Corbyn is expected to say: “This time last year there were more than a few people in the media who had written the Labour Party off.

“In Scotland we were told that Labour was dying. The truth is that we very much are alive and kicking. Labour in Scotland is back.

“We won six seats for Scottish Labour at the last general election, and we are on the cusp of winning around 20 more.”

The party in fact gained six seats and opposition parties stuck the boot in on the Labour leader’s arithmetic.

George Adam, the SNP MSP, said: “Scottish Labour’s MPs have made such little impact that Corbyn doesn’t even know how many there are.”

Jackson Carlaw, for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “This blunder shows exactly how much attention he pays to events north of the border, and the Scottish Labour branch office.”

The conference runs until Sunday.

Picture: PA. Jeremy Corbyn receives a gift that depicts him riding a llama, as he has a selfie taken with Katie Abey during a special event in Alfreton, Derbyshire, on International Women’s Day yesterday.