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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Jacob Jarvis

Shadow minister asks 'where's the bloody unity?' as he calls on Labour to unite on Brexit stance

Barry Gardiner, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade (Picture: PA Archive/PA Images)

A shadow minister asked "where's the bloody unity?" as the start of Labour's party conference was overshadowed by infighting.

Shadow secretary for international trade Barry Gardiner spoke of his desire for the party to unite behind a Brexit strategy during a fringe event on Sunday.

Mr Gardiner said he felt the party needed to facilitate a situation which would be best for the public on Brexit, which he described as allowing them to make a decision on a deal which could be seen as a viable option and remain.

Commenting on party disagreements, he said: "We march under a banner that says unity is strength - well where's the bloody unity?

"Let's try to move forward in a way that not only brings the party forward but brings the country forward. We're here to serve them."

Jeremy Corbyn's party has been rife with in fighting at its conference (REUTERS)

He also defended Labour's plan to, if it were in government, negotiate a new Brexit deal then put that to a referendum with Remain also on the ballot.

"It's not about Jeremy Corbyn, it's not about Barry Gardiner, it's about us as a party in Government reaching a conclusion the public can support," he said.

Mr Gardiner said though he would vote to remain again he feels the voice of others needed to be respected and he would support any decision made by the public - even though he would prefer to stay in the EU bloc.

He refused to be drawn on whether the conference was becoming a "beauty pageant" for new leaders, stating answering such a question would be drawing him to insult his colleagues.

His comments, at a Brexit and the Labour Party event, came as the party saw divisions in the shadow cabinet with differing stances on Remain.

Both Tom Watson and Emily Thornberry expressed their desire to push for staying in the bloc on Sunday.

It comes after Mr Watson survived a bid to oust him as deputy leader.

A policy statement put forward by Mr Corbyn to the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) sets out a plan for a Labour government to reach a deal with Brussels in three months, followed by a referendum.

Only after reaching a deal with the EU would the party decide its stance in the referendum,

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