Sharing EU platform with Tories discredits Labour, says McDonnell
![Discrediting Labour: Sadiq Khan shares an EU platform with the Conservative David Cameron [Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160531-Khan-Cameron.png)
Discrediting Labour: Sadiq Khan shares an EU platform with the Conservative David Cameron [Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire].
And John McDonnell was absolutely right to do so – as readers of This Blog will know from its article of yesterday (May 31).
I note that Khan’s spokesperson said he had been telling the world that he would campaign alongside David Cameron all the way through his election campaign, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.
It seems Labour’s ‘Remain’ campaign isn’t the only organisation having trouble getting its message out.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has said it discredits Labour to share a platform with Tories arguing to stay in the EU – the day after the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, appeared on stage with David Cameron.
McDonnell said it reflected badly on the party and would demotivate its supporters to see senior figures on a stage with their political opponents.
The remarks appear to refer to Khan, who won the London mayoral contest last month and decided to appear on a platform with Cameron on Monday.
A spokesman for McDonnell said: “John’s comments were not specifically addressed towards Sadiq. He was only repeating what he and other members of the shadow cabinet have said before on learning the lessons from the referendum in Scotland and campaigning on a distinct Labour message. And if anything the polling out today suggests adopting such an approach can only be helpful to achieving a Labour vote to remain on 23 June. That is why John will continue fighting hard for every vote to keep Britain in the EU and prevent a Tory Brexit.”
McDonnell, however, made it clear he thought that no Labour politicians should be on stage with Conservatives, as he gave a question and answer session on the EU in Wolverhampton.
“The Europe that the Tories want is not our Europe. Cameron went to negotiate away workers’ rights in advance of this referendum. If he could have done it, he would have done,” he said.
“If Cameron and his crew are still in power after this referendum they will continue dismantling our welfare state. They will continue to cut benefits, undermine wages and cut public service jobs. This will go on.
“Sharing a platform with them discredits us. It demotivates the very people we are trying to mobilise.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has also ruled out appearing on stage with Cameron during television debates or events.
Source: John McDonnell: sharing EU platform with Tories discredits Labour | Politics | The Guardian
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I am sure you have seen this, but here are six examles of John McDonnell sharing platforms with the Conservatives
http://order-order.com/2016/05/31/6-times-mcdonnell-shared-platforms-with-tories/
Hardly conclusive proof as there is no explanation of what the pictures are showing.
Labour MPs appear in photographs alongside Tories all the time – for example, the State Opening of Parliament.
Also, of course, even if he has shared platforms with Tories, we can all recognise from his comments that he has learned from the experience.
He has definitely shared platforms quite openly with Tories to oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport. His hypocrisy would be quite laughable if it weren’t for the fact he actually aspires to high office.
As I stated earlier, if he has done so, he has clearly realised his mistake since.
This referendum is basically a Tory civil war. They should be left alone and shunned to fight and squabble among themselves.
Sadiq Khan is a opportunist it will be interesting to see how he performs I doudt if he will have any bite
As usual John McDonnell is 100% right. It beggars belief that Khan should do that unless he feels “I”m alright Jack for the next 4 years so I don’t care if the Labour Party under Corbyn gets shafted”. Makes you wonder what makes the man tick. No real political nous by the looks of it. He probably won in the end by default rather than by political charisma since his main rival’s campaign was so batty that people voted for the “less” batty candidate.
Sadiq Khan can now join the other dis-honourable gentlemen so oft referred to in PMQ’s, a greater hypocrisy you could not be privy to with so many bought and paid for, self serving Ministers – on both sides of the aisle.