Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary ‘furious’ with John McDonnell over his promise to embrace Brexit
Shadow chancellor said in a speech earlier this week that leaving the EU could be an "enormous opportunity"
LABOUR'S Shadow Brexit Secretary is said to be "furious" with the Shadow Chancellor for saying that leaving the European Union could be an "enormous opportunity".
Keir Starmer is unhappy with John McDonnell, who gave a speech earlier this week saying that Labour needed to be more positive about Brexit.
“We must embrace the enormous opportunities to reshape our country that Brexit has opened for us,” Mr McDonnell said.
“In that way we can speak again to those who were left behind and offer a positive, ambitious vision instead of leaving the field open to divisive Trump-style politics.
“It’s time we were all more positive about Brexit,” he added. “Labour wants to see an ambitious Brexit Britain.”
But their fight could be stemming from another argument with the leader's office about how much money Mr Starmer will receive for advisers.
The Shadow Brexit Secretary has just one full-time adviser for his department, but most other shadow teams have three or four.
Allies of Jeremy Corbyn say he they are nervous about him using his platform to launch a future leadership bid, and he is being accompanied by other members of the shadow cabinet on visits to keep an eye on him.
The party is deeply divided on how to deal with immigration post-Brexit.
Despite some MPs opting to listen to the referendum vote and back tougher rules on immigration, the Labour leader and his close team are still determined to stand up for uncontrolled rules on who comes into the country.
During his speech Mr Corbyn pledged Labour will not offer “false promises” on immigration and said his party will tackle the real issues - and fund areas with high migration.
Mr Starmer told the Andrew Marr Show in October that Labour would have to be "open to adjustments" to freedom of movement rules, at odds to Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, who covers the immigration brief.
This row comes days after Labour admitted it has NO shadow minister for immigration.
The party was slammed as "out of touch" with working people who are worried about the impact of migration on their towns and cities.