Advertisement

  1. National

Commons passes Government's fiscal charter

The Government's Charter for Budget Responsibility has passed the Commons 320 to 258, majority 62, following days of bitter rows in Labour's ranks over whether to oppose the plan.

A total of 20 Labour MPs abstained from the vote.

View all 18 updates ›

'It's best to be honest,' says shadow Chancellor

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said it was "best to be honest" about changing his mind over the government's fiscal charter.

Speaking after the vote, which saw the Charter for Budget Responsibility passed by a majority of 62, he said that Conservatives showed "derision" and "arrogance" during the debate

McDonnell admitted during the debates that his u-turn over the policy, which had sparked disunity within his party, had been "embarrassing".

More on this story