McDonnell, Meacher: 44 is the magic number
Posted on Wednesday 20 December, 2006
Filed Under Labour Left
John McDonnell – pictured left – confirmed his intention to stand for the Labour leadership in September. Michael Meacher’s key sidekick Alan Simpson has today confirmed the long-running suspicion that the former Bennite also wants a run at the top job.
Hay un problema, dudes. Getting on the ballot paper requires the signatures of 44 Labour MPs. That is a major barrier to even one candidate to the left of Gordon Brown making the cut. If both try to do so, neither will suceed. Simple as that. Simpson is a savvy bloke and realises all this, of course:
‘Mr Simpson said that the two men might have to agree that one would stand down to give the other one a clear run.
‘”The harsh message for both of them is if they neither of them can get the 44 [nominations], there are going to have to be discussions between them about getting people to switch.”‘
Quite. And no surprises for who Simpson wants to see back down. The snag is, even though McDonnell is a no-hoper, Old Nine Homes is a no-hope no-hoper, if you see what I mean.
Given that only real point of running a Labour left candidate at all – other than to fuck up Gordon’s coronation party, a worthy aim in itself – is to regalvanise the Labour left activist base, McDonnell is clearly the man for the job.
Ladies and gentlemen, raise your glasses to the Socialist Campaign Group. So faction-ridden they cannot even organise a purely tokenistic leadership challenge without making a pig’s ear of it. Doncha just love ‘em?
Incidentally, Simpson has made it clear that he has no personal ambitions in all this:
‘Mr Simpson also sought to quash rumours that he may stand in the deputy leadership race as part of a dream ticket with Mr Meacher.
‘”I can say categorically I have made absolutely no indication of being interested in standing for the deputy leadership.
‘”What I have been trying to do is persuade [Michael] Meacher to stand for the leadership.”‘
Update: Mole writes in the comments box:
‘Alan Simpson IS planning a deputy leadership bid. You can take that as fact. He’s been driving the Meacher bid nearly single-handedly SOLELY so he can launch his deputy leadership bid on the back of it. The idea is to launch a ‘Climate Change’ ticket.’
Kinda makes sense. Simpson is a smart guy. There must presumably be some method in his madness.
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9 Responses to “McDonnell, Meacher: 44 is the magic number”
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Alan Simpson IS planning a deputy leadership bid. You can take that as fact. He’s been driving the Meacher bid nearly single-handedly SOLELY so he can launch his deputy leadership bid on the back of it. The idea is to launch a ‘Climate Change’ ticket.
This once again hammers home that the McDonnell campaign has a fundamental problem: Getting the 44 nominations to even get on the ballot paper. Where are they going to come from?
There are only 24 members of the Socialist Campaign Group and some of the 24 will not support McDonnell, even in a straight fight with Brown. Even without Meacher’s bid, and without any other candidate to siphon off the votes of the kind of maverick MPs who might just hate Brown or want to see a contest, I just can’t see where another 20 plus votes are going to come from. And nobody has exactly been rushing to the front to explain.
With Meacher in it becomes all but impossible.
I’m sorry, but while McDonnell might get 44 nominations, I can’t see Corbyn getting enough if Cruddas is in the race.
You could’nt make it up could you? A split the vote campaign from Michael “9-11 was an inside job” Meacher. Just what the left needs! The words “piss-up” and “brewery” spring to mind.
Winning this contest is no option, but its really about putting down a marker and getting back some influence for social democracy, as New Labour gradually destroys it.
Come on, it wouldn’t be the left without twattish splitters.
Personally, I hope Meacher gets zero.
Alan Simpson should be garrotted (metaphorically for doing this) and chucked out of the Campaign Group but the reality is this. At least I hope it is.
When push comesto shove, Meacher will get less support than McDonnell so will have to stand aside. Corbyn is probably standing as deputy to stop Simpson and Meacher at one fell swoop. Simpson was spinning ridiculously in the Guardian about how MM had “nearly” 44names. It’s rubbish. He’s currently going round with a petition asking MPs if they would support “a centre-left MP with Ministerial experience” for leader. Now who could that be ? That’s how desperate he is.So don’t give up. Organise.
My educated guess is that John currently has about 30 nominations. Meacher’s only champion appears to be Simpson.There’s only one left candidate.Andit’s not someone who voted for war in Iraqand most other New Labour orthodoxy – however much he now recants.
If you’re worried about Meacher screwing things yo big-style, do a Google Fight – no contest!
I can confirm that Simpson is planning to run as Meacher’s deputy.
So, as well as the Labour Left, that’s the trade unions and soft left out the window. Keep up the good work, boys!