McDonnell says fiscal charter U-turn due to meeting Redcar families

Shadow chancellor attributes change of heart, fiercely criticised by his own MPs, to meeting Teesside steelworkers who were made redundant

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has explained that he changed his mind about voting for the government's fiscal responsibility charter after meeting the tearful families of Redcar steelworkers who have lost their jobs.

The senior Labour politician has been criticised by some of his own MPs for saying he now wants them to vote against the charter, which reverses his claim to the Guardian two weeks ago that he wanted them to vote in favour.