LABOUR’s Shadow Chancellor today revealed the party was actively considering a universal minimum income for Brits.

John McDonnell said the party had launched a review led by Shadow Treasury Minister John Reynolds – and it was an “interesting” idea.

2 John McDonnell said Labour was looking at bringing in a universal basic income Credit: Reuters

And he said Labour was also working with Guy Standing, who has been lobbying for a basic flat income since the 80s.

The move comes just days after Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she may adopt plans for a £150 a week income – regardless of whether Scots have a job or not.

Challenged today whether Labour would follow suit, Mr McDonnell told LBC: “We put in our manifesto that we’d look at a basic income and that’s what we’re doing.

“Jonny Reynolds in my Treasury team is leading a working group on that.

“We’re bringing together working group and we’ll produce a report and do a proper consultation on that.”

Mr McDonnell also denied Labour's leadership is trying to quash debate about Brexit at the party's Brighton conference.

2 The Shadow Chancellor also denied that Labour members were being denied a debate on Brexit Credit: Reuters

He was speaking after pro-EU MPs expressed fury after delegates decided not to list Brexit as one of the key issues that needed a vote on.

The party’s leadership was accused of a stitch-up after the Jeremy Corbyn-backing Momentum movement and trade unions urged its supporters not to vote for the motion to avoid a damaging row on the subject.

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But Mr McDonnell insisted there would be "plenty" of debate on the party's stance on EU withdrawal, with delegates on Monday discussing a report from the leadership being presented by shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer.

Asked whether he and Mr Corbyn were trying to dodge scrutiny he told ITV1's Good Morning Britain: "I wouldn't characterise it that way.

"In our new politics, we are saying conference needs to be controlled by the delegates. They decide what we will debate, not the leadership."

And he added: "This is democracy at work."

Last night at a rally for Labour's Blairite Progress wing, MPs lined up to condemn the decision.

Jess Phillips described the move as "f****** ridiculous", while former shadow cabinet minister Heidi Alexander said: "We will be a laughing stock."

This morning Labour's National Executive Committee agreed a statement on Brexit, which will be timetabled for a debate at the conference - but it is likely that it will simply set out the existing party policy.