Corbyn “worked harder than any other Labour member” in run-up to EU vote, says McDonnell

John McDonnell today called for “compromises” from all sides of Labour to find a solution to the current internal divisions. This comes a day after Jeremy Corbyn pledged to to “reach out” to those unhappy with his leadership.

The shadow Chancellor also said that claims Corbyn’s team were refusing to let senior figures see the Labour leader were untrue, and that “Jeremy has had an open-door policy for the past nine months”. McDonnell said that if MPs unhappy with Corbyn’s leadership, such as Angele Eagle and Tom Watson, wanted a one-on-one meeting today, they would be able have one.

Reports in The Observer yesterday claimed that Corbyn aides were preventing a solo meeting with Watson, for fear the deputy leader would convince him to resign.

Speaking on the BBC this morning, McDonnell again urged calm among Labour MPs – ahead of a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party tonight.  “We’re asking people to stand back,” he said. “Let’s have a proper rational conversation.”

He said it was time for the party to “find what compromises need to be found, and let’s present ourselves as an effective opposition, working together in the interests of the country.”

Despite the Brexit vote in EU referendum being the trigger for the unrest in the Labour Party, amid allegations that Corbyn did not pull his weight in the campaign, McDonnell claims that the leader “worked harder than any other member of our party” in the run-up to June 23. Despite the calls for calm and compromise from the leadership, this is likely to anger rebel MPs who feel their criticisms are not being taken on board.

McDonnell also responded to plans from George Osborne to cut corporation tax to 15 per cent, claiming it would turn the UK into a “European tax haven” after previous cuts to the tax rate failed to provide the supposed increase in business investment.

Describing Osborne as a “lame duck Chancellor”, McDonnell said: “Instead of turning the whole country into a giant tax haven and playground for the ultra-rich, the Chancellor needs to get a grip on the real problems by reversing planned cuts to Government investment and bringing forward shovel-ready projects for those areas worst affected by the investment slump and the shock of Brexit.”