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Labour split claims are 'myths and rubbish', says McDonnell

Britain's Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonnell, poses for a photograph during an interview, following a Reuters Newsmaker event in London, Britain November 21, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville
The shadow chancellor has spoken out about split claims in the Labour Party. (REUTERS)

Reports that the Labour Party is on the verge of splitting are “myths and rubbish”, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said on Sunday.

The veteran Labour MP said he had not called on Jeremy Corbyn to fire two advisors, as detailed in a report in The Sunday Times, and he dismissed speculation of rifts at the top of the party.

Mr McDonnell and shadow health secretary Diane Abbott were said to have warned Mr Corbyn that unless he backed a second referendum on leaving the EU and sacked some of his top advisors, he would face a crisis in his leadership.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond react as they listen to Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in Parliament in London, Britain July 3, 2019. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Mr McDonnell said himself and Mr Corbyn were close allies. (GETTY)

The Jewish Chronicle reported that there has been tension between the Labour Party leader and shadow chancellor because Mr McDonnell was frustrated with the way Labour had dealt with its anti-Semitism crisis, as well as Brexit.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Mr McDonnell said he had “read all this rubbish about splits and all the rest of it”.

He said parliament journalists “exaggerate and invent stories” during the month of July and the Sunday Times story about any split between himself and Mr Corbyn is “myth and rubbish”.

He said that he goes back 40 years with Mr Corbyn and that they are the “closest of friends”.

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Mr McDonnell told Andrew Marr: “The recent polls show that we are ahead of the Tories. Before the last election we were miles behind and then we drew level and almost won.

“Brexit has dominated everything and once we are back on the domestic agenda, we can win.”

With regards to Brexit, Mr McDonnell said the party should “get on with it” and said he would campaign for the UK to remain in the EU if there was a second referendum.

He added that Mr Corbyn was building consensus with the public before an announcement that Labour will campaign to remain.

This comes as the Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson urged party members and supporters to give their support for remaining in the EU and to demand Labour lead a campaign.