Guardian Profile
Many of you have been in touch to ask us why they we've had such limited coverage in the national papers. Some have described it as an almost "news blackout". Well, the good news is that the Guardian today have published in the G2 section a profile written by the author and human rights campaigner Ronan Bennett. If you're interested in our campaign, have a look at the profile, but more importantly, take a look at some of the policy issues we've been raising - and let us know what you think.
Honest John
John McDonnell has never shirked a fight - whether his opponent was Margaret Thatcher or his bosses in Labour. And now this little-known leftwing MP wants to lead the party. Ronan Bennett, who has worked on campaigns with him, profiles the first candidate in the race to succeed Tony Blair
Tuesday September 26, 2006
The Guardian
On a Saturday night shortly before the 1992 general election, I bumped into Peter Mandelson at the party of a mutual friend. Affable and charming as he can be when he wants, Mandelson asked what I was up to. I said I was going to spend the following morning campaigning for the Labour candidate John McDonnell in the Hayes and Harlington constituency in west London. Mandelson's smile froze in an instant. "Don't waste your time," he said with evident distaste, before turning sharply away.
The architects of New Labour never made any secret of their contempt for community activists and socialists such as McDonnell, but the suggestion that they preferred the Tory incumbent to hold the seat rather than see McDonnell in parliament was shocking. McDonnell lost by 54 votes but five years later was elected with a 13,000 majority. Two months ago - still an MP - he announced his candidacy for the Labour leadership after Tony Blair steps down.
Read more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1880921,00.html
Honest John
John McDonnell has never shirked a fight - whether his opponent was Margaret Thatcher or his bosses in Labour. And now this little-known leftwing MP wants to lead the party. Ronan Bennett, who has worked on campaigns with him, profiles the first candidate in the race to succeed Tony Blair
Tuesday September 26, 2006
The Guardian
On a Saturday night shortly before the 1992 general election, I bumped into Peter Mandelson at the party of a mutual friend. Affable and charming as he can be when he wants, Mandelson asked what I was up to. I said I was going to spend the following morning campaigning for the Labour candidate John McDonnell in the Hayes and Harlington constituency in west London. Mandelson's smile froze in an instant. "Don't waste your time," he said with evident distaste, before turning sharply away.
The architects of New Labour never made any secret of their contempt for community activists and socialists such as McDonnell, but the suggestion that they preferred the Tory incumbent to hold the seat rather than see McDonnell in parliament was shocking. McDonnell lost by 54 votes but five years later was elected with a 13,000 majority. Two months ago - still an MP - he announced his candidacy for the Labour leadership after Tony Blair steps down.
Read more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1880921,00.html
posted by John at 9:39 AM
13 Comments:
Also today, there was a report in the Morning Star of the Hands Off Venezuela fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference, at which John McDonnell spoke. This was a very lively and enthusiastic meeting. See report here:
http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/john_mc_donnel_venezuela_solidarity.htm
A very warm profile. I hope it's picked up on.
You've got no chance of winning mate, you might as well get behind someone stronger that will!
Your profile is non-existant outside the party, your charisma flat and your SAD performance of putting a downer on Blair's final speech today just smacks of ungratefulness and jealously.
I thought Blair's speech was awful, particularly his comments on Iraq and ID cards. By invading Iraq, Blair is responsible for the surge in terrorism in the country - this is confirmed by the US intelligence report released yesterday. Yet, he has taken this as a vindication of his position that British troops have a right to remain an occupation force in Iraq! Blair is pathetic.
As for ID cards, he offered no explanation of how illegal immigration and terrorism can be combatted by this exorbitant system. Foreigners will not be expected to have ID cards, so how can they be used to stop illegal labour? The terrorists that attacked London last year were legitimately in the country - most if not all were British citizens. ID cards would not have prevented these bomb attacks. So why should we compromise our liberties?
The over-emotional reaction to the speech indicated how much delegates have ignored Blair's betrayal of party principles and the British people, his lies, his manipulation, his spin-doctoring. As a Labour party member, I see no reason for tears - there is plenty of reason for jubilation that this horrendous man is stepping down. Enough of this sycophancy, let's get to business dealing with Blair's mess and his destruction of the party's internal democracy.
Dear Anonymous 2
It's evident the media is starting to take notice of JM, as is Downing Street and the more intelligent members of the cabinet. There were many parts of Tony's & Gordon's speeches which indicate that they have taken on board many of the issues discussed here, and they now recognise that there is a strong movement within the party to prevent the drift to the right.
As a consequence, Tony's speech was conciliatory, mainly as a response to criticism. How do you think that speech may have been crafted if there were no contenders and no public voice of our concerns? Indeed, would he even call it his last speech to conference? The attacks on John are increasing (all of which seem to be personal, rather than about his policies), what further proof of the fear of the growth in his support is required?
JM currently third equal in this fun online poll
http://snowflake5.blogspot.com/
I'm curious about 2 things: firstly, why has the Labour Party given Gordon Brown free-rein to campaign for leadership while muzzling other candidates, notably, John McDonnell? Are we being rail-roaded into accepting Brown as Blair's inevitable successor? Secondly, why do union leaders rightly say there are loads of things wrong with new labour's reforms, yet refuse to endorse McDonnell and praise Brown, the architect of new labour, as the worthy successor to Blair?
Earth to Labour: the public are disappointed with new Labour as they turned out to be Tories in disguise. We aren't calling out for Thatcherite policies, we're sick of them, the public wants to regain a stake in the country's infrastructure through public services staying in public hands.
perhaps the way round this is to have rallies in public parks as the media would never give fair coverage to politicians who threaten economic oligarchs (oligarchs who own Britain's media).
Just been to look at that poll and (at this time) John is joint first, with Alan Johnson (obviously it's just a fun online poll, but it can't be a bad sign!)
according to today's Guardian ,John has 41 of the 44 nominations he needs to get on the ballot paper. True or not, we must lobby our MPs to ensure the membership has a chance to vote for a left, socialist candidate. John will get much support from the ordinary members and trade unionists.But he HAS to win those nominations. A Newsnight focus group places him on level pegging with Gordon Brown - but focus groups aren'twhat this campaign is about. To re-claim our Party, we need credibility. John McDonnell and the policies he endorses gives us that. we can win members back and re-build the Labour Party .This campaign is the start of a long, hard road. But I firmly believe we can make real progress .As someone said,the media is starting to take us seriously.
I think Catholic Mum is wrong. On domestic policies, people don't yet think things are as bad as the Tories. But the PFIs are a time-bomb that threatens to unravel public service provision in years to come. This has to be made clear to Labour activists and the public and John is the one to do it. Even if he doesn't win, his campaign could still change the direction of Labour government policy.
I am happy to report that John McDonnell came out first in Snowflake5's online poll, despite her being a completely paid up Brownite. Thanks to everybody who bothered to vote!
See ...
snowflake5.blogspot.com
I am happy to report that John McDonnell came out first in Snowflake5's online poll, despite her being a completely paid up Brownite. Thanks to everybody who bothered to vote!
See ...
snowflake5.blogspot.com
John McDonnell is the only one who has declared he will be standing for the leadership and has indeed launched his campaign. Yet, uptil now,there is a virtual media blackout occurring in relation to the McDonnell campaign, this is very disturbing: John is the only MP who has publically backed the Campaign against the Welfare Reform Bill(CAWRB) that to me is the mark of a decent man and he should have a fair crack of the whip.
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