MP challenges Brown for Labour leadership
Left-wing MP John McDonnell has announced he will challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair steps down.
The Hayes and Harlington MP dismissed suggestions he was a “stalking-horse” designed to unseat the prime minister, saying his interest was a serious attempt to ensure the Labour party had a “democratic debate” about their future when Mr Blair resigned.
“Some have argued that instead of an open democratic election, there should be a smooth transmission or virtual coronation of his successor. But this would deny party members the right to openly debate the issues facing our party,” Mr McDonnell told reporters.
“We need to rebuild the progressive consensus, inspiring and giving people hope that another world is possible. People no longer feel they have a voice. This campaign is a challenge to the political consensus.”
Mr McDonnell, the chairman of the socialist campaign group and of the Labour representation committee, was a councillor on the Greater London council (GLC) before entering parliament in 1997.
He is highly unlikely to win any leadership contest, and the chancellor’s supporters would no doubt welcome an opportunity to distance themselves from the left of the party. However, it could open the way for another, more serious challenger.
Mr McDonnell is one of Labour’s most rebellious members of parliament – according to publicwhip.org.uk, he has voted against the government 53 times (25 per cent of the time) since last May, with an attendance rate of more than 70 per cent.
In a recent article for the Socialist Campaign group, the 54-year-old said Mr Brown’s promotion of “market supremacy, exploitation of flexible labour and privatisaton” over the past decade meant he “must be challenged”.
“After nine years in office, New Labour has disillusioned Labour supporters, demoralised party members, MPs and ministers and is burdened by a distrusted leader who is content to govern on the strength of Tory votes in parliament if necessary,” he said.
“Many now view the government as bankrupt morally, intellectually and electorally. Some looked to Gordon Brown as the solution to the Labour party’s woes.”
But he warned the chancellor was “absolutely wedded” to the dominance of free-market forces, had refused to scrap Margaret Thatcher’s anti-trade union laws and, while spending more on public services, was a “key promoter” of privatisation.
“For the avoidance of any doubt about the political trajectory of any Brown government he announced his support for the renewal of Trident,” he said.
Mr McDonnell added: “These policy announcements demonstrate conclusively that Brown cannot be allowed to take over this party. He must be challenged.”
