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John McDonnell accuses Theresa May of Brexit 'bribery' for trying to get pro-Brexit Labour rebels to 'sell their votes'

The prime minister is considering a cash injection for areas that voted Leave in the 2016 referendum

Saturday 02 February 2019 19:06 GMT
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The shadow chancellor accused the Conservatives of ‘pork barrel politics’
The shadow chancellor accused the Conservatives of ‘pork barrel politics’ (EPA)

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John McDonnell has accused Theresa May of launching a “dangerous” bid to win backing for her Brexit deal after it emerged the government is considering providing a cash injection to areas that voted Leave in the 2016 referendum in an attempt to win Labour MPs’ support.

A Downing Street source confirmed to The Independent that funds for Leave areas was a “possibility” but made clear it had not yet been agreed.

Some 14 MPs voted against the Labour whip last week and opposed an amendment by Yvette Cooper which would have paved the way to delaying Britain’s exit from the EU, with 11 more MPs abstaining.

Bassetlaw MP John Mann, a staunch critic of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, responded to claims that Ms May was considering providing additional funding by tweeting: “Show us the money. A fund of sufficient size to transform our communities. Our areas voted Leave and it is time that we had the investment we need.

“Our areas need to see a fund established that is transformative. The forgotten areas of Britain who voted Leave want jobs, rights and investment.”

Mr McDonnell claimed that the incentives to pro-Brexit Labour backbenchers were the latest example of what he called the Conservatives’ use of “pork barrel” politics, following its post-election spending deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

On a visit to Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday, he said: “I don’t think any MP will sell their votes in that way – that sort of bribery and corruption.”

Mr McDonnell also said talk of such “contractual” arrangements pledging investment in the constituencies of MPs who back Ms May’s deal, was “dangerous for our democracy”.

He also talked up Labour’s prospects at any future general election, despite accepting current polls put the party and the Tories “neck-and-neck”.

“I think we’re in the same position now, where people are saying you’re neck-and-neck and I’m saying ‘that’s right’.

“But once we get into the real debate in a general election campaign you’ll see we’ll be able to pick up those additional points that will get us into government. The debate at the moment is obviously clouded by Brexit,” he said.

“But when you go round and have meetings like today where we tour different towns, Brexit is an issue. But also they want to get back to bread and butter issues.”

He added that Ms May had been been “running down the clock” and said it was now “better to be looking at a new deal”.

“We put forward our proposals: permanent customs union – we know maybe half of her cabinet supports that – a single market relationship which is strong and collaborative, that’s one issue that needs further negotiation.

“But also protection of workers’ employment and consumer rights.

“We think that package could bring the country back together and could bring parliament back together as well.

“But the problem we’ve got now is she’s running down the clock. She’s negotiated for two years and got nowhere,” he added.

Additional reporting from agencies

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