Corbyn should commit Labour to blocking Brexit, party activists say ahead of conference

More than 100 motions from constituency parties to call for an ambitious programme to tackle climate change

Even for Corbyn, trying to restore Clause IV is a step too far – for now (AFP)

Jeremy Corbyn will come under intense pressure to commit Labour to blocking Brexit at next week’s party conference, with more than 80 constituency motions demanding a Remain position and not a single one backing Leave.

He will also face demands to sign the party up to an ambitious Green New Deal programme including a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 and guaranteed green jobs.

Some 128 constituencies have voted to send the motion drawn up by the group Labour For A Green New Deal to the annual conference in Brighton, more than for any other issue – including Brexit.

Each constituency party is allowed to send one policy motion or rule change to conference, and by the deadline on Thursday 90 Brexit-related motions had been received – 81 of them calling for a pro-Remain stance.

Labour MP Marsha de Cordova called on the party to use the conference to put an end to fudge on Brexit.

“There is no middle ground when it comes to campaigning in an EU referendum,” she said. “We tried to fudge our line before and failed dramatically.

“Our members and activists won’t forgive us if we do that again. It’s time to take a side and expose Brexit as the completely destructive Tory project it is.”

Michael Chessum, national organiser for the Another Europe is Possible group, whose pro-Remain motion is backed by a number of constituency parties, said: “Labour members are the secret weapon of the party at a general election, and the party ignores them at its peril.

“Support for an explicit Remain stance is evidently overwhelming. If backroom manoeuvres are deployed to stop this being debated on conference floor, it will be a disaster for morale and for Labour’s prospects.

“We need a debate and a vote at conference. Only if Labour can get clarity on this part of its policy can fight the election on its domestic agenda.”

Adrienne Buller, co-director of Labour for a Green New Deal, said the number of motions tabled made it all but certain that the climate emergency will be put to debate and vote in Brighton.

“Climate breakdown is the defining issue of the 21st century, so it’s no surprise that Labour members have put the Green New Deal top of the agenda for this year’s party conference,” she said.

“The upcoming general election will not only be a Brexit election, but a climate election. With a radical and transformative Green New Deal which offers a vision of shared hope and prosperity, Labour will stand ready to win it.”