Labour has performed its latest policy u-turn and pulled off the 360-degree change of plans in just 12 hours.
The record-setting flip-flop came after Tory MPs piled on the policy of using so-called ‘citizens assemblies’ to bypass Parliament and pass new laws without a manifesto mandate.
The new policy emerged this morning after Sir Keir’s Chief of Staff Sue Gray said in a rare interview she would like to devolve power away from Whitehall.
Ms Gray’s idea for Citizens Assemblies, modelled on a system used in Ireland, would see members of the public discuss key issues.
Shadow Cabinet members voiced support for Ms Gray’s pet policy, with shadow health secretary Wes Streeting telling the BBC they could be used to pass new laws on assisted dying.
Tory MPs immediately slammed the proposals, accusing Labour of wanting to undermine the democratic House of Commons.
Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford fumed: “I mean we literally have a Parliament already.
“Abrogating responsibility rather than taking the hard responsible decisions is clearly the Labour way.”
1922 Committee member Will Wragg added: “The House of Commons is a ‘citizens assembly’ I suppose.
“Perhaps it might be a reasonable place for such deliberations, rather than subcontracting out responsibility to unaccountable bodies.”
Robert Largan MP warned that the assemblies would be used to “give a veneer of legitimacy to policies too unpopular/ridiculous to win a referendum or risk being included in an election manifesto”.
Even a member of Labour’s National Executive Committee, Luke Akehurst, said the policy was a “stupid idea”.
“It is an abdication of responsibility to farm [tough decisions] out to potentially unrepresentative panels of people with no specific knowledge or accountability.”
However, in a humiliating climb-down, Labour officials are now insisting that the plan is not a formal policy.
The U-turn will spark renewed criticism of the Labour leadership’s inability to stick to its principles in the face of criticism.
Aside from Ms Gray, Ed Miliband has frequently supported citizens’ assemblies in the past.
In his book, Go Big, The shadow Net Zero secretary said citizens’ assemblies “work” because they provide a platform for “informed, thoughtful conservation rather than shrill, knee-jerked responses”.
Since the introduction of citizens’ assemblies in Ireland, they have recommended a number of policies, including:
- A motor tax, in addition to a purchase tax for petrol and diesel vehicles
- Taxing frequent fliers and getting rid of SUVs
- Increasing taxes for carbon-intensive activities
- Yearly tax increases on petrol and diesel
- Dropping criminal convictions for drug addicts
- Extending gender quotas for political parties
Commenting on the row, Tory vice chairman Craig Tracey said: “Despite being Labour leader for four years, Keir Starmer can’t say what he’d do because doesn’t have a plan.
“Instead, he’s handed over policy making to Sue Gray, but she doesn’t have a plan either so she’s passing the buck to 99 supposedly randomly selected individuals.”
