Top 15 John McDonnell Quotes

John McDonnell, the nearest to a hero in both books. McDonnell worked tirelessly and pragmatically. He wanted to win, knowing that unity and a semblance of coherence were fundamental preconditions for victory. He kept up a dialogue with the so-called moderates and spoke out publicly on both anti-Semitism and the Salisbury poisonings, to the point where he and Corbyn did not talk for several months.

I'd like them to vote Remain, but that's part of the debate we've got to have

We can't say to people 'Labour wants you to share in the running of your workplace, your community and your environment, but we don't trust you to have the final say over Brexit.'

I think he's reckless and I think he's unstable and I will move heaven and Earth to stop a no-deal Brexit.

My view is that you'd put the deal to the people, but you'd have to also have the option of the status quo. Deep in my heart, I'm still a Remainer, but I've got to try and bring together effectively what is a British compromise.

The values of Catholicism are the inherent values of the Labour Party and the inherent values of socialism...

Therefore now in the national interest we have got to come together and secure a compromise. If we can't do that, well yes, we have to go back to the people.

My fear is that if we did have another referendum, we might get the same or similar result and the country will still be divided. Somehow we have got to try and bring the country back together again.

If the government says 'well a customs union for a couple of years or maybe customs union until we decide there won't be one,' well actually, that doesn't give the stability for investment for anyone

There are enough sensible people in the House of Commons to say 'this cannot happen, we cannot damage our country in this way'.

We voted for the implementation of Article 50 because we respect the referendum result. But we cannot have this situation where government becomes unaccountable on the implementation of one of the most important decisions for a generation.

That has been our objective since immediately after the referendum. The structures - whether we are in or out - are a secondary matter. We are not ruling anything out but what we are saying is that we are the fifth largest economy in the world and we have a special status in both our relationship with the EU and the rest of the globe and we feel we can get a deal that achieves tariff-free access.

Our objective is tariff-free access to the market

We will be cut off from our biggest trading partner. We will be cut off from the skills and contribution that EU nationals have made to our economy and society.

This means we must not try to re-fight the referendum or push for a second vote and if Article 50 needs to be triggered in Parliament Labour will not seek to block or delay it.