I was pleased to see that a YouGov poll of Labour party members published today in The Sunday Times placed me in second place behind Gordon Brown in the upcoming leadership election. Before I'm accused of spinning, here are the figures: Gordon Brown - 80%; John McDonnell - 9%; Michael Meacher - 6%; and Charles Clarke - 5%.
However, bear in mind that this result has been achieved despite the fact that, unlike the other candidates, I was a virtually unknown backbencher when I launched - and despite the fact that this campaign has received very little media coverage. I strongly believe that the reason I've been placed second at this stage is because of the hard work everyone has put into building a real grassroots campaign. I've always made it clear that this campaign was about engaging with Labour party members, supporters and trade unionists - in contrast with the usual approach, which is to confine the campaign to the Westminster Bubble with no consultation with grassroots activists. I think that it is a real achievement to be ahead of two former ministers and second place behind Brown at this stage in the campaign.
This poll shows what could be achieved during the main campaign. The media will have no choice but to start giving us coverage. Labour party members and trade unionists will finally be given the opportunity to hear exactly where I'm coming from. I will be given a platform to advocate Real Labour policies which are supported by the mainstream of our party and millions of ordinary people - whether that be direct investment in council housing, an end to the war in Iraq, publicly owned public services, a green energy policy based on renewable power sources, the restoration of trade union rights and civil liberties, a Real Living Wage of at least £7 an hour, renationalisation of our railways, an all-out war against inequality and child poverty, the restoration of free university education, support for universal comprehensive education, or the immediate restoration of the pensions-earnings link.
The main campaign will put us in a position to advocate socialism that is relevant to the 21st century, put the Left back on the map and reconnect the Labour party with its members and supporters.
14 Comments:
Congrats John, it seems all your hard work is paying off, in a sense the hardest part will be over! I think then you'd just have to take your message to a wider audience with the correct mix of fair criticism and widely felt dissapointmet as well as acknowledging the good things and being positive about the socialist alternative. With New Labour so far over the hill, with members and the public so tired and hungry for change i cant see how your message could fail to resonate. Plus, your funnier than Brown is!
The poll is good news.In a world where "brand awareness! is all being second ahead of Clarke and Michael Meacher is an excellent place to start......I hope it's noted by the PLP.
BTW my friend's 18-year-old son was a John Reid supporter until he came across this blog.I've just sent her a link to the SYN !
Ahead of Clarke and Meacher! So much for the people claiming no-one knew who you were. Great news.
I suspect once your names on the leadership ballot paper your profile will increase and many of Brown's current supporters will realise they prefer your policies to more of Blair's.
This is really good news. That 6% is Meacher's glass ceiling - after all, everyone in the party knows who he is (he's been an MP since 1970, was a minister till recently, stood for deputy leadership in the 80s etc)
On the other hand, John (with all due respect!) you're still not that well-known because of the sodding media blackout. 9% of party members are so far declaring support without any real publicity - I bet the proportion of the party that know much about you and your policies is about 15%! In a real leadership contest where you can put out your policies and challenge Brown (and finally get some coverage!) - well, then I think you can give the guy a real run for his money.
I took part in that poll earlier this week, was wondering which paper it would appear in.
I think John is right to think that number can only go up, especially with media attention upon you.
Combining a positive left-wing message, with expressions of disappointment over New Labour, and ample criticism of the Tories, your campaign could make a real difference!
Thats good news
Forward together!
If you do get the nominations, which I sincerley hope you do. Does anyone think we can hope to see a question time debate similar to the Tory and Lib Dem contests?
This is great John! Congratulations indeed! I was very happy to see you coming out ahead of Clarke. That ought to set the uber-Blairites straight - the Party Left would beat their candidate any time, any day; especially when the votes that at the present stage go to Meacher will be cast on you instead.
Go get them, Comarde!
Excellent,
The 6% for Meacher is likely to be redistributed to the John 4 Leader campaign where as the 5% to Brown giving us 15%.
Not a bad start - this can then be turned around once the media blackout ends.
Meacher just said on Westminster Hour that he has twenty four signed nomos and would stand down if he has less than John as only one of them can get 44
Congratulations John on breaking through the media blackout at last: when i have suggested people look at your blog, etc, so many times, they have emailed me back, etc to say, ''who is this guy?, why haven't we heard more about him, what he is saying is important and makes sense''. It's about time you were on Question Time so the wider public could discover your genuine humanism, new thinking, and ideas.Its the first time in many many years any UK politician has given me hope
onwards
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