Come back, Sir Anthony Meyer
Posted on Tuesday 29 July, 2008
Filed Under New Labour
The poor chap is long dead now, and his name probably means little to anyone under 30. I had to Google him up to make sure of the details myself.
But the late Sir Anthony John Charles Meyer, 3rd Baronet, sounds like quite an engaging character for a Tory MP. For a start, there was his longstanding affair with a black jazz singer, which was apparently all square with the missus. If the chanteuse’s intimate personal diaries – inevitably serialised in the tabloids – are anything to go by, he was certainly an active old cove.
More important for present purposes, though, is the footnote in post-war political history Sir Anthony (pictured) earned through his bit part in the latter-day re-run of the Glorious Revolution.
Back in 1989, Margaret Thatcher’s unpopularity had reached the point where, under her leadership, Tory defeat at the next general election was perceived as a certainty. The parallels with where we are now should be obvious.
Yet none of the leading figures in the Conservative Party had the courage to stick in the knife. Again, some might just see contemporary analogies here.
Cometh the hour, cometh the obscure pro-European backbencher. It was Sir Anthony who put himself forward for the leadership, in an explicit bid to destabilise Thatch. Inevitably he secured just 33 votes, as against 314 for the Leaderene.
The expectation was that one of the party’s so-called Big Beasts – Sir Ian Gilmour or Michael Heseltine were the names most frequently mentioned – would come forward to contest the second round. In the event, the Big Beasts didn’t have the bottle.
But the damage was done. It was Sir Anthony’s intervention that started the countdown to the departure of the woman to which New Labour has granted a state funeral. As a result, the phrase ‘stalking horse challenge’ entered the political lexicon.
Why raise this now? Well, there is currently speculation that David Miliband and Alan Johnson are considering a ‘dream ticket’ run for the Labour number one and deputy leader jobs.
However, just like Gilmour and Hezza, they are reportedly dithering and only likely to act if Brown can somehow be forced out of office. As Brown may well not agree to go of his own accord, that probably means that somebody has to step forward and do a Sir Anthony, with or without the jazz chick.
This is where a John McDonnell leadership challenge, if indeed it happens, would come in handy. I’ve got no problems with the political basis on which he would most likely stand, and if by so doing he contributes to rebuilding Labour’s hard left, the move has to be seriously considered.
But he’s not going to win. If the most likely outcome is a short-lived Miliband administration followed by several terms of Tory government, the tactical implications need to be thought through in full before proceeding. And anyway, Charles Clarke could just as well do the sacrificial honours.
It is unclear what McDonnell’s intentions are. The email motivating his potential candidacy was circulated by a former aide, who claims to be acting in a personal capacity. Yet McDonnell has notably not repudiated the suggestion.
I hear that some sections of the Labour Representation Committee – essentially the McDonnellite Tendency, to be blunt about it – think that there needs to be further discussion across the organised left. I think they are right.
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Comments
12 Responses to “Come back, Sir Anthony Meyer”
A good post but misses out several key elements. There is no suggestion that McDonnell will challange an incumbent Brown, mainly due to the practicalities ie he wouldn’t get 72 nominations. In an open contest IF Brown goes and others like Milliband, Hutton and Harman stand then there is no reason for McDonnell not to stand. The idea a McDonnell/Milliband contest (which would probably end up as 20%/80%)would see the loser taking the blame for 10 years and more (at least) of Tory rule is risible.
I’m not suggesting that the loser would take the blame, James. Or the winner, for that matter. Blair & Brown and the ones wot dun Labour in.
Oh, and if the Blairites decide that McD would serve as a stalking horse, then surely they could make sure he gets the necessary signatures?
AFAIK John has consistently said over a year ago and recently that he will not be used as a stalking horse.
John hasnt called for Brown to go – its about the policies – as you well no Dave!
i’ll say again if the right wing tossers who cravenly suported him last yr have now decided hes got to go for someone else to carry on with the same policies were screwed.
If there is an election then of ocurse the left should have a candidate or would you rather we sat on the side lines and watched Balls vs Miliband slug it out to out tory the tories?
Dave,
Once again, as the initiator of the letter, John McDonnell had literally absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever.
As for the stalking horse scenario – this is genuinely absurd. John has already made it clear on thousands of occasions that he would never stand as a stalking horse. It would be completely counterproductive from the perspective of the left because it would simply usher in another leader with the exact same politics as Brown – what possible motive would he have?
If you read the letter I have circulated carefully, it says “if a leadership contest is to take place” and “urges John McDonnell to stand when there is a vacancy and for MPs to nominate him…”
In other words, the whole point of launching this campaign is the recognition that there will only be days to put together a leadership campaign when Brown is deposed. The purposes of this campaign are: a) to convince John to stand; b) to convince MPs to nominate him.
I hope that John will stand if there is a contest to ensure that progressive policies are put on the political agenda. I certainly wouldn’t ever support him standing as a stalking horse but thankfully that’s the last thing John would ever consider.
“I hear that some sections of the Labour Representation Committee – essentially the McDonnellite Tendency, to be blunt about it – think that there needs to be further discussion across the organised left. I think they are right.”
McDonnellite Tendency? Interesting choice of trot words. But in saying that, it would put me into that tendency as well.
But Harpy, are you a supporter of the ideas of the McDonnellite Tendency? Or simply a reader of the McDonnellite newspaper?
Ah well, Dave, being the conscientious and thoughtful Trot (old habits die hard you know) I am, deffo a supporter of both the ideas and avid reader of the McDonnellite newspaper.
I mean, I am known to sell it outside Waitrose on a Saturday….shows utter commitment for building the class struggle.
I’ve got no problems with the political basis on which he would most likely stand, and if by so doing he contributes to rebuilding Labour’s hard left, the move has to be seriously considered.’
I have to say, I think the term, hard left’is not an attractive one, and can be used by the media to stereotype the left in general, which in truth is a very diverse affair.
Dave, i think you are underestimating the capacity of a putative JM leadership campaign to enthuse old LP members and encourage new ones, especially young uns, many many people were considering joining the LP if the l/campaign had gone ahead.
MarshaJane
I’m glad you wrote:
“If there is an election then of ocurse the left should have a candidate or would you rather we sat on the side lines and watched”
I therefore take it you will not be supporting John McDonnell since there is no chance he will get on the ballot paper.
I wouldn’t rule out John Cruddas as a possible stalking horse candidate either.
On the subject of your dream/disaster ticket, I somehow doubt that Harriet Harman is going to let Miliband and Johnson beat her to the top job when she has been deputy leader of the party. The infighting will be hilarious to watch.
Lefty,
if at first you dont succeed….
Besides if we dont try weve already lost and theres more to an election contest than getting on the ballot paper. Look at the amount of people the original John4Leader engaged with the thousands of young activists that got involved and meetings up and down the country bringing in 400 people – when your average lefty meetings (of any variety ) top out at about 60 attendees if your lucky its a significant improvement.
We can also shape the debate back towards the left – if there was an absence of the left in the debate/contest it would just be Harman vs Miliband out righting each other.