John McDonnell's fiscal responsibility U-turn sends wrong message – Labour MP

Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie says his successor needs to explain last-minute change after angry parliamentary party meeting

The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, needs to explain fully his U-turn on voting against the government's charter of fiscal responsibility, his predecessor, Chris Leslie, has said, arguing it sends the wrong economic message to the public.

McDonnell told the Guardian in an interview during the weekend of the Labour conference that the party would change its position under the new leadership and back the fiscal rules despite Jeremy Corbyn having been elected as leader on an anti-austerity ticket.

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