Quote of the day
The Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy at a Jewish Labour event:
I was going to say something about how good it is being a Jew in the Labour party at the moment … but someone told me you guys don’t get irony.
Tweet of the day
Sarah Owen, GMB political officer and Labour NEC member:
To the people shouting “shame on the unions” they have no idea of the importance and strength of the bond between the Trade Union movement and the Labour Party. #Lab18
— Sarah Owen (@SarahOwen_) September 23, 2018
Debate of the day
Consensus appeared to break out as Jeremy Corbyn insisted he would follow the democratic will of his party if delegates voted for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal. But trouble could still be brewing. The Labour leader refused to say which way he would vote. The Unite chief, Len McCluskey, added his tuppence worth, suggesting it would be wrong for any new vote to include the option of staying in the EU. Remainers will be unimpressed.
The day in a picture
Row of the day
In these politically turbulent times, Labour’s hot topic was a series of technical changes to the party rulebook. Many delegates were furious that the changes were not radical enough, with proposals ensuring party leadership candidates had to secure nominations from 10% of MPs, double what many members wanted. Trade unions’ role in the compromise saw them branded “traitors”. Not the most comradely start to the conference.
Tomorrow’s highlight
The omnipresent shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, sets out plans to make workers up to £500 a year better off by expanding employee share ownership of large companies.
