Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Leftwinger to challenge Brown for Labour leadershipLeftwinger to challenge Brown for Labour leadership
Hélène Mulholland
Friday July 14, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
A leftwing MP today declared his intention to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair stands down.
John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlingon and chair of the parliamentary Socialist Campaign Group, formally announced his intention to stand against the chancellor to allow the party to "openly debate the issues facing our party and the future direction of the country".
Mr McDonnell is the first MP to openly declare his intention to stand against Mr Brown following speculation that the chancellor would be unopposed in his bid for the leadership.
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Mr McDonnell, who describes himself as an undeniable "socialist", insisted he was not putting himself forward as "a so-called stalking horse".
"This is a serious challenge for the leadership of the party when a vacancy occurs," he said today.
"I am standing to ensure that thousands of Labour party members and supporters have the chance to participate in deciding not only who should be the next leader of our party but more importantly what policies the party should be pursuing," he said.
Asked why he was waiting until Mr Blair resigned rather than trying to hasten his departure, Mr McDonnell quipped: "We do not do assassinations in the Labour party - we also do not do coronations either, by the way."
Conceding that few outside Labour circles would recognise his name, Mr McDonnell said he planned to spend the next nine months campaigning around the country to discuss the issues and build up support for his candidacy.
"There are many that feel the party has lost its way," he said.
"Many of the policies being pursued in government have broken up the broad coalition of support Labour has relied upon throughout its history to bring it to power," he said.
"New Labour has systematically alienated section after section of our supporters - teachers, health workers, students, pensioners, public service workers, trade unionists and people committed to the environment, civil liberties and peace.
"Spin and allegations of sleaze are causing decent people to lose trust in our party.
"This is reflected in lost votes, lost elections, lost members and a Labour prime minister having to rely upon Conservative votes in parliament to force through legislation.
"There are growing calls from across the party for change. We need to rebuild a progressive consensus, inspiring and giving people hope that another world is possible. We need those who have turned away from Labour to come back home.
"For the first time in decades people no longer feel they have a political voice. This campaign is a challenge to the present political consensus."
A smooth transition from Blair to Brown would see Labour turfed out of government at the next general election, Mr McDonnell said.
"I cannot see any difference between Gordon Brown's policies and his future programme and what there is at the moment.
"If you do not change the policies you will have a smooth transition... to Cameron."
Minister Yvette Cooper was the first within the party ranks to criticise Mr McDonnell's decision. Ms Cooper, a minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government, said the party did not need a contest.
"I don't believe this is what the Labour party wants," she said.
"We need leadership which will unite the party, not divide it. We need to look forward to the challenges of the future, not back to the politics of the past.
"This shows why it's so important to have a stable and orderly transition and not lose focus from the real task of delivering a better deal for the people of this country."
Mr McDonnell plans to start the debate on the policies he plans to put forward at next week's Labour representation committee meeting.
These include stopping the contracting out of public services to private companies, pulling out of Iraq, withdrawing from Trident, and ruling out nuclear power altogether.
He insisted he could bring together a "broad coalition" of support which had seen other Labour leaders come to power in the past.
"It brought Atlee to power, and it's what brought us to power in 1997," he said.
Mr McDonnell rejected claims that by standing he was set to scupper the chances of a more recognised leftwing challenger.
"It is perfectly open for others to put in their name and open the debate. What we aim to do is maximise our support."
The 51-year-old MP rejected claims that his early pronouncement would destabilise the party at a time when it is mired in the loans for peerages allegations.
"We have been waiting to declare for the last few weeks," he said.
"But every time we convene a press conference something else happens."
Meanwhile, another prominent Labour leftwing MP added his voice to those believing that Mr Brown should be challenged for the leadership.
Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, said Mr Brown was no longer convincing and that he was no longer the answer.
Interviewed by the Parliamentary House Magazine, Mr Flynn said Robin Cook's death had left a vacuum.
"The left of the Labour party has no major figure to lead it. I am afraid that I no longer believe that it could be Gordon Brown," he said.
Mr Flynn said the left and right of British politics were being deserted as all parties sought to occupy the "mushy centre" of politics, the area of no conviction".
"The problem is, and the recent two byelections proved this, that it means that those who are on the left no longer love the Labour party and do not believe Gordon Brown is the answer, especially when we see him hugging the virility symbol of Trident," he said.
"He is no longer convincing," Mr Flynn added.
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