Oldham East and Saddleworth: the return of polarised politics
THE INEXCUSABLE and repugnant racism plastered all over the glossy election leaflets of Phil Woolas last May should have been enough to condemn Labour to good kicking in yesterday’s Oldham and Saddleworth by-election. Ethnic minority and mildly left-of-centre voters had every right to register their distaste by putting their cross elsewhere. And yet Debbie Abrahams – [...]
John McDonnell mulls new leadership bid
This email – originally written on a parliament.co.uk account – has been widely circulated across the left this evening, so presumably I’m breaking no confidences by reproducing part of it here. The best part is, it’s all totally unofficial. Totally unofficial, you understand: I write to you today in a strictly personal capacity. I have [...]
John McDonnell on the future of the Labour left
An interview with John McDonnell – the leftwing Labour Party leadership contender unable to secure sufficient nominations to get his name on the ballot paper – appears in the latest edition of The Socialist. You can safely skip most of it. The interviewer’s impatience is palpable until he finally cuts to the chase: Of course [...]
After McDonnell: what next?
This press release from John McDonnell – pictured – says it all, really: DATE: 16.05.07 For immediate release MCDONNELL CONCEDES LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE John McDonnell said: “With Gordon Brown having gained 308 nominations from Labour MPs, it is now mathematically impossible for me to reach the nominations I require to stand. There will not now be [...]
McDonnell ‘drops Labour leadership challenge’
McDonnell has reportedly thrown in the towel. Unsurprising, really: Mr McDonnell has until 1230 BST on Thursday to get 45 backers. Only 27 Labour MPs have yet to nominate. But according to BBC research at least four of the 27 are planning to nominate Mr Brown and three plan not to nominate anyone. That leaves [...]
McDonnell: appeal for nominations
Labour leadership contender John McDonnell is making one last-ditch effort to secure the necessary nominations. But sadly it is starting to look like this just ain’t gonna happen: CALLING NOTICE…………….CALLING NOTICE For immediate release PRESS CONFERENCE 4 pm Jubilee Room House of Commons LAST CALL FOR LABOUR MPS TO NOMINATE MCDONNELL – AN APPEAL TO [...]
John McDonnell: results and prospects
With the withdrawal of Michael Meacher from the Labour leadership contest, the field is finally clear for the John McDonnell campaign. As ever when launching into an exercise like this, it’s always good to start with a realistic assessment of the likely results and prospects. First, what are the chances of McDonnell actually getting his [...]
Labour leadership: McDonnell ‘about to declare’
If the leaks are anything to go by, McDonnell is about to be confirmed as the left’s Labour leadership contender. But I won’t be able to post a comment immediately, as I have to pick Daddy’s Little Princesses up from school. Please talk among yourselves. Meanwhile, here’s today’s press release: CALLING NOTICE…………….CALLING NOTICE…………….CALLING NOTICE………………CALLING NOTICE [...]
McDonnell: lower nominations threshold
Yet another McDonnell press release, this time – perhaps significantly? – calling for the threshold for nominations to be lowered: PRESS NOTICE…………….PRESS NOTICE DATE For immediate release MCDONNELL ACCEPTS BROWN’S OFFER OF DEBATE AT FABIAN SOCIETY CONFERENCE John McDonnell said: “I welcome Gordon’s offer to debate the party’s future direction and shall be participating. It [...]
McDonnell ‘to get 44 nominations’
Over at politicalbetting.com, the speculation is that last week’s rebellion over Trident has bolstered the chances of John McDonnell getting on the Labour leadership ballot paper: ‘A comment on today’s thread by Pimpernel, who is usually well-informed about Labour affairs, suggests that the left-winger who was first to declare for the leadership, John McDonnell, looks [...]
