McDonnell sets out New Economics conferences to “transform” Brexit debate

John McDonnell has today revealed details of a series of new year economic conferences designed to deliver policies for widespread prosperity in the aftermath of Brexit.

The shadow chancellor has asked a series of left-leaning economics and commentators to take part in the events around Britain from February.

He said the one-day conferences will build on Jeremy Corbyn’s aim to form an “economy that works for all” which featured in his summer leadership campaign.

The first event will take place in Merseyside – the city where McDonnell grew up – on Saturday February 4 and will feature Corbyn, Steve Rotheram, Labour’s candidate for metro Mayor in Liverpool, Faiza Shaheen, director of trade union-backed think tank Class, artist Maxine Peake, academic Dr Daniela Gabor, as well as representatives of the TUC, The Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chambers of Commerce.

It comes around a year after McDonnell kicked off a series of free public seminars on “the new economics”, featuring academics such as Mariana Mazzucato, although some of the experts later expressed disappointed at Corbyn’s efforts in the EU referendum campaign.

Today McDonnell, one of Corbyn’s closest political allies, said the regional conferences in 2017 are designed to “transform” the debate in the aftermath of the EU referendum.

As well as the Merseryside event, there are other conferences due to take place in Glasgow, Newcastle, Bristol and Cardiff. A spokesman for McDonnell confirmed the annual State of the Economy conference will also take place in Birmingham in May.