John McDonnell campaign siteAn anonymous troll was mentioning a poll in the Telegraph by Yougov which seemed to indicate poor support for alternatives to Brown as leader of the Labour Party.
malky x said...
Here's the link for the telegraph poll http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/05/nlab105.xml
I agree with Matthew, it's not that gloomy...
...even though the online graphic of the results (you need to click on it to enlarge it on the telegraph site) has McDonnell and Meacher both on 6% in an unlikely hypothetical 4 way contest with Brown and Miliband.
Here's that part of the poll result:
"In any contest for the labour leadership, who would you vote for if the following candidates were nominated?
Brown 52%
Miliband 14%
Meacher 6%
McDonnell 6%
Not sure 18%
Would not vote 5%"
Meacher and McDonnell are not going to be on the same ballot (in my view it should be McDonnell, on the merits of the campaign and platform outlined on this blog) - so on this poll there is a 12% left vote and a 14% right/ultra Blairite.
One important question is: what about the 18% not sure and the 5% who say they would not vote for any pf these? Large numbers of don't knows/won't says are often indicative of shifting ground.
(I couldn't see a result showing McDonnell 10%, with Meacher behind on ?% - can anyone post a link or a copy of that result?)
However, the most interesting part of the poll for me was this:
"To go on winning elections, Labour needs to govern from the Centre, not to adopt more Left-wing policies
Agree 55%
Disagree 35%
Don't know 10%"
Implication being that even after ten years of members leaving because they are disillusioned with Blairism, there is still over a third who wish policy was more left wing than it is, with a further 10% undecided. The "Centre ground" (Blair/Brown/Mandelson-speak for right wing!) strategy commands a majority, but it is not overwhelming - far from it.
Indeed, this corresponds with our own view that there is a much broader base of support for sensible (even democratically agreed, and socialist) policy than is often supposed or spun.
That is why Brown doesn't want a credible left candidate. That is why there appears to be almost visible pressure being brought to bear on MPs who might otherwise support or even nominate McDonnell (I don't really think Brown fears Meacher).
John's campaign is clearly designed to articulate the views of that large minority of party members.
It is based solidly on democratically agreed policies of the Labour party and its trade union affiliates, and has touched grassroots parts of the party other candidates find it difficult to reach.
Personally I think that if John McDonnell can get on the ballot paper, the pundits would be surprised at the high level of support he will get in the party (ie amongst constituency and union members).
Getting on the ballot paper depends to a large extent now on getting on the telly, on the radio, in the papers and in the blogs.
More exposure for McDonnell in the media! It can only be of benefit to ordinary, loyal and sensible Labour Party and trade union members like myself, and the majority of ordinary working people who out party should represent but has been so sadly failing in so many ways through the Blair years.
Go on yoursel' John!
9:06 PM
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