LOBBY NOW FOR JOHN McDONNELL !

This Sunday, John McDonnell is to give an interview to GMTV.The good news is that it's a rare opportunity to see the left get mainstream coverage. The bad news is that John reveals he is still only halfway to getting the 44 names he needs to get on the ballot.

The only way over this considerable obstacle is if Michael Meacher stands down - enabling John to pick up most of his votes. It's also fair to say that, with only ONE left contender, the campaign would have new impetus.

My understanding is that ,whatever Meacher has been claiming, he has only a handful of supporters. These MPs must be lobbied now. I am only speculating.But the following MPs could be worth an e-mail. A nice one, of course........

simpsona@parliament.uk

hopkinsk@parliament.uk

jonesl@parliament.uk

And of course.........

meacherm@parliament.uk

BIG EARS BRINGS HIS POT TO THE LEADERSHIP KETTLE

Amid the serious days which lie ahead as we try to have a leadership contest , there are still some laughs along the way. Thus we have that well-known loyalist Charles Clarke admonishing candidates for "plotting" against the Government.

He says: "There are serious divisions caused by those candidates for leader and deputy leader who have entered the contest before there's even a vacancy, who have publicly appointed their campaign managers and who prefer backroom conspiracy and plots to open discussion of the policy challenges we face."

Would that be the "open discussion" of his ludicrous 20/20 Vision website, perchance?

My guess is Clarke is just miffed that Miliboy won't ruin his career by standing against Brown -and that he has NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER of getting sufficient support.

PS: Charles, of course we want an open discussion in a proper contest. New Labour has spent the last 13 years denying dissidents free speech........

PPS: Tried to find a flattering picture.......

AN OPEN LETTER TO KELVIN HOPKINS

Dear Kelvin,


I admit I was pretty disappointed when you decided to back Michael Meacher for Leader. I distinctly recall you insisting that, as a member of the Campaign Group, you would be backing John McDonnell when we discussed the issue at last year's Labour Party Conference.


In our subsequent conversation two months later, you said you would love to support John but that he didn't have the support at Westminster.


Michael Meacher has NO MP endorsements on his website and you are the only MP who seems to be publicly backing him. I am sure there are others, but it can only be very few.


By way of contrast, John McDonnell 's campaign is gaining momentum by the day, as you will see from the impressive list of endorsements on the website www.john4Leader.org.uk


I was glad to see Michael publicly state in answer to my question in the Independent (March 5) that he would stand down in the event of getting less nominations than John.


However, my understanding of the situation is that if Michael does not stand down before Blair resigns, then we could lose the chance to have a leadership election. Perhaps by only a handful of nominations. As you are renowned as a decent socialist MP, there is surely only one honourable course of action here. Please do your best to help John McDonnell get on the ballot paper. I

In comradeship, Susan Press

PS:I'm sure mine will not be the only letter on this matter. I am sure others will be e-mailing you at hopkinsk@parliament.uk

NEW LABOUR'S "CARING" FACE

Minister Jim "Mr Hard Man" Murphy outlined New Labour's latest stance on the welfare state at a conference yesterday.

The benefit system, he said, "will never pay, of itself" the £220 or more a week needed to lift a lone parent with two young children above the government’s official poverty line of 60 per cent of median earnings, "and I don’t think it should". Later on, the Minister concurred some might say he was "callous and heartless." He was right.

The words Tory. And Tebbitt - spring to mind.

PEACE BREAKS OUT IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Monday update: Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, sitting side by side for their first news conference in Stormont, confirmed that power-sharing would begin on 8 May.
Mr Paisley said the DUP was committed to full participation in government and Mr Adams said it was a "new era".

Thank God for that. My grandparents had to leave NI 100 years ago because they had a mixed marriage. Well done everyone concerned. And fair play to Blair, as they would say over the water.If only this were his only foreign policy legacy.......

MEACHER MUST STAND DOWN

I have just blogged on to Michael Meacher's website. It makes pretty forlorn reading. Two weeks after I set up my humble little blog, I am getting more comments than a leadership candidate for the Labour Party.Maybe I should go for it too? It's telling that the only comment is from a blogger urging Michael to stand down and let John McDonnell have a free run. The rest, as Shakespeare said, is silence. Which in this case speaks louder than words.

Let's get one thing clear. I have no personal "issues" with Michael. All of us beyond a certain age have had a lot of time for him. I''m so old that I even voted for him in 1983 as deputy Leader. But he really should have known better than to launch a vainglorious campaign at this stage in his career when a much more credible left candidate had already built up a significant support base. My guess is he was told this by his few MP supporters immediately before the disastrous launch - but decided to go ahead anyway. However, this is now getting silly. We have five weeks to sort this out and get behind a left candidate who can get on the ballot and put up a credible socialist campaign against Gordonchev. So Michael, please get over it. And stand in solidarity with John McDonnell.

MARXISTS 4 MILIBAND

When John McDonnell launched his campaign in July last year, he described the Blair/Brown scrapping as being like The Sopranos. Well, I hear The Sopranos is now in its last season. One can only hope the same is true of New Labour.

Today, Number 10 has leaked "sources" who claim Blair backs Miliband for leader. Quel surprise! My guess is they just won't be able to resist one last stab at stopping Gordon. No doubt Mandelson, quoted in typically acid tones the other day, is on the phone day and night plotting. So what will happen?

Let's be clear about one thing. None of this is about policy. In most ways that matter, whether it's Miliband or Brown, nothing much will change. Apat from the fact that at the next General Election we will be utterly slaughtered if we carry on down the New Labour road.

My guess is that the local election results will be so bad that either Blair will hang on, or one of the Blairites will announce they are to stand. And this could actually help us get a left candidate on the ballot. It could also sabotage things completely.But whatever happens, we need to carry on recruiting and buildimg grassroots links in the unions and wider community. That's the only way we can see off this tired, discredited New Labour brand.

And here's a picture of the only Miliband I would have voted for - lifelong Marxist Ralph

THE BEST LEADER WE NEVER HAD

Watching Question Time last night I was reminded of why Tony Benn was (and is ) head and shoulders above any of his contemporaries in the Labour Party. At nearly 82, he is still sharp as a tack, erudite and deeply impressive whatever he is talking about. Last night's discussion on Iraq showed him on absolutely top form. There was a telling moment when the camera suddenly switched from Benn to Des Browne, who didn't know he was on camera. Browne clearly agreed with every word Benn was saying but of course was there to parrot the Government line that Iraq is not an unmitigated disaster and that the world is a safer place because we have got rid of Saddam.
The worst decision Tony Benn ever made was not to switch to a safer seat in 1983 ,when boundary changes made his Bristol constituency marginal. He lost , and we lost the best leader we would ever have had. Kinnock was elected instead and the rest is now New Labour history.
The scandal of a Labour , a LABOUR Chancellor punishing the poor for the sake of a good Sun headline is one which I hope returns to haunt him. Preferably at the leadership election.

WILL BROWN BE BLUE OVER THIS ONE ?

From today's Guardian Diary

“To Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, where St Tony's father-in-law, the celebrated actor Tony Booth, is spotted nodding vigorously and clapping enthusiastically at a local meeting in support of Mr John McDonnell, the dastardly rival even now plotting to deny poor Mr Broon his rightful inheritance as leader of the Labour party and thus, if we're not very much mistaken, prime minister of our green and pleasant. That'll put the cat among the pigeons.”

We hope it also makes Cherie smile..........

SMOKE AND MIRRORS BUDGET CLOUDS REAL ISSUES

Gordon Brown's "Business Budget" was exactly that. A smoke and mirrors masterclass which robbed the poor to pay the rich a little bonus to keep them sweet.
As that well-known left-wing rag The Telegraph says today: ,
"Mr Brown will claw back nearly all the cost (of the 2p tax cut) by scrapping the 10p lowest rate of income tax. As a result, low earners will start paying the basic rate sooner." A senior tax consultant at accountants Grant Thornton says it is "ironic" this effectively penalises some of the poorest families who will pay for his so-called give-away.
Ironic? it's a bloody disgrace. Despite welcome money for the NHS and education, the public services will see spending grow by just two per cent in the coming years. Effectively, a decrease. Yet this "Budget For Business" as the Chancellor called it, cut corporation tax , raised the inheritance tax threshold and trashed the Tories 'plans for a tax on green flyers. It's designed to please Middle England - New Labour's usual target audience.
As one wag put it , "Brown has just delivered what should have been George Osborne's first budget. Add the recently-announced cuts in public sector pay, the £76billion for Trident, and it doesn't sound quite so great as the Brown-friendly media said, does it?
The Chancellor has a masterly command of how the economy works .What a shame he doesn't use his undoubted "towering intellect" to benefit those who most need his expertise. And deliver a Labour budget.

NO "AFFIRMATIVE BALLOT" FOR BROWN

Labour's NEC has just agreed not to stage an affirmative ballot in the event of a "coronation" for Brown. No get-out now. The reason, though, was apparently because they could not afford it! However, the whole thing would have been a charade anyway. Now the PM programme is liningup Gordon's pals on PM to say what a great guy he is. One thing I'm sure of. If there is NOT a contest many of us will be very, very angry. That simply does not reflect the feeling within the Party.

BAD NEWS FOR GORDON AS TORIES HIT RECORD LEAD OVER LABOUR

Tomorrow's Guardian has an ICM poll which reveals Labour at its lowest ebb since the 1980's. A straught question over voting intentions puts Labour at 31 percent and the Tories at 41 percent. But when the named leader question was put - ie which party would respondents support in a contest between Mr Brown, Mr Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell - the shares were CON 43%: LAB 28%: LD 18%. Forget the comfort zone of the hung Parliament.This would give the Tories a horrifyingly clear majority.

Blind panic is now likely to set in at New Labour HQ. On the eve of the Budget, it'sdesperate stuff for Labour and somehow we have to recover ground.Tragically, this WON'T happen while , as Frank Dobson said years ago, they keep re-arrangingthe deckchairs on the Titanic. Brown clearly doesn't realise that in tackingto the right, and declaring a new war on traditional Labour members, he's digging his own grave. He wil never appeal to Middle England. And now it seems he appeals to no-one.

BECKETT'S WAITING FOR GORDON - BUT I'M NOT

New Labour's fear of a leadership election is getting absurd. Margaret Beckett is rolled out today urging Cabinet colleagues not to stand against Gordon Whyever not! Well, I know why not. If someone like Hain ( who is still highly regarded by many on the leftand has done a great job in Northern Ireland) stood against GB then the results could be very interesting. But he isn't going to. Today, Brown shoots himself in the foot again by doing his Punch and Judy act with Blair over "personalised services" including plans for GP surgeries in supermarkets. Why can't they cut out the stupid gimmicks and come up with the revolutionary idea of decent public services properly planned and managed by the public sector.I must confess to being pretty gloomy when Michael Meacher ignored the counselling of hundreds of us and insisted on launching a campaign. It was the classic left imploding on itself scenario which I have witnessed so many times in my 40-odd years. But it seems this could well have been a catalyst for the left to unite and really get behind this campaign. No offence to Michael but he really should have listened.The pressure NOT to have a leadership election will continue. We need to keep lobbying our MPs, being positive , and we'll get the contest without which Labour really will be sleepwalking to disaster with Gordon.

On a lighter note, my partner's suggestion ( after several pints at our local the Fox and Goose) that Feminists 4 John should start chaining themselves to railings is probably a bit over the top!

LEADERSHIP RACE IS ON - LET'S GO FOR IT!

Interesting times, indeed. Today, www.politicalbetting.com forecasts a leadership contest is on the cards. Veteran Mirror columnist Paul Routledge, who wrote Brown's biography and was a huge fan of Gordon when I spoke to him at Conference some years ago, now publicly backs John McDonnell. Even our local website has a post from the webmaster, who attended Friday's meeting. Nice plug Chris and thanks for link. Please re-join Labour! Now Blair's departure date has been leaked (May 5) we really have to pull out the stops. As Mike Wood MP said the other night, "even if we d¬on't win we'll make their eyes water!

About 60 people turned up to the Stubbing Wharf pub last night for our Labour Party meeting in support of John McDonnell. Including Tony Booth! Not everyone there was a Labour member but the spirit in the room was really friendly and inclusive. As usual, John gave an excellent speech. Several people told me afterwards they were thinking of re-joining the Party. We even made a profit on the colection- proceeds will go to John's campaign.Thanks to everyone who turned up.

Our MP is standing down at the next election and, before any careerists get any ideas, you haven't got a cat in hell's. The only way we can possibly hang on to this very marginal seat is by choosing a left-of-centre candidate with socialist principles.Anyone interested in finding out more can come to the Stubbing Wharf, Hebden Bridge ,tonight, where John McDonnell MP and Mike Wood MP are speaking about Labour's future. This awful coalition with the Tories re Trident will cost us dear at the next election.Thank God we still have 100 principled MPs.

REBELS TO BE PROUD OF

Watched most of yesterday's Trident debate and not surprised at outcome but it was heartening to see so many MPs rebel, including my own, Chris McCafferty. Pendle's Gordon Prentice really gave a storming speech, too. Gordon Brown and the Govt are completely out of step with what the mass of the Party think. This is likely to spell more trouble for the Leadership but hopefully it will energise and motivate the Labour left. It must surely be a boost also for our hopes of getting a leadership contest. Brown seems hell-bent on a car crash approach to those who disagree with him.

TRIDENT debate

Update: 16.45 Great speech from John McDonnell on why he's voting agaonst Trident. My hope is a rebellion of at least 80 MPs but Whips have a way of whittling these things down. Off to hand out some leaflets now and will return for vote about 6pm.

Beckett's Ban The Bomb credentials

Trident debate: Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is congratulated by William Hague for ditching her CND past and embracing Trident.Fantastic.Roy Hattersley and she have changed places.
Jon Trickett moves amendment but he's a TERRIBLE speaker.

TRIDENT VOTE TODAY

Today is vote on Trident billed as biggest rebellion since Iraq. We'll see. It's so depressing listening to mind-numbing Ministers like Des Browne talk nonsense on the Today programme. Also John Denham who strikes me as decent but a classic fudger.
The reality is this will get through with Tory support. And that we will get clobbered for it at the local elections. and then after that the General Election . Calder Valley is almost certain togo Tory.
Hebden Bridge,I should explain, is a wonderful timewarp where most people are on the left, of a certain age, and have moral certainties. New Labour, you could say, never got here.Tonight there will be a vigil in the park which is fairly fruitless I suppose but I will go along and take some leaflets for our meeting here with John McDonnell on Friday. The debate should be heated......

wrong date

Labour Conference in September......I meant. Am going with partner who is visitor official from CLP and I shall be visitor unofficial. A REALLY CHEAP option is caravan park outside Bournemouth in Christchurch .Two of us in 4-berth luxury for £165!!!

John4Leader Rally

Was bit undecided about this as long way to go but swayed by Ken Loach and thought of Labour Conference in October.......tickets now booked.

Trident Vote Tomorrow

Tomorrow's Trident vote will I hope be the biggest rebellion since the vote on Iraq. Even Neil Kinnock has now joined the fray which should help focus minds a bit. Sadly, the policy on renewa;l will get through thanks to Tory support. But it is absolutely vital that a significant chunk ofthe PLP remains principled and visibly against the Brown agenda.Good luck to everyone on the CND demo tomorrow outside the House of Commons

PRINCE OF DARKNESS RETURNS

Today's Guardian: "Peter Mandelson has accused the prime minister of "unreasonable and irresponsible" behaviour in the way he granted concessions to Sinn Féin during Downing Street's attempts to broker a peace deal in Northern Ireland. As Mr Blair tries once again to revive power sharing, he is criticised by one of his closest political allies of "conceding and capitulating" to republican demands." Why am I not surprised Mandelson is back from the Euro hinterland. No doubt scheming and plotting to persuade Boy Miliband to put his hat in the ring.

Blogging Nightmare

Thanks to Owen and Miles for posts. Just spent 45 minutes (when I should be working and catching up on overdue articles) negotiating my way round passwords and logging in. Pure displacement activity........I will probably be nipping down to London on March 31 even though have meeting there March 24. We have our own John4Leader meeting here friday so still some last-minute reminders to send. Big splash in Hebden Bridge Times.....who says there's a media black-out !

Trident debate

March 12 2007

Nigel Griffiths has resigned as deputy Leader of the House over Trident. Others to follow, apparently.Seems like forces already lining up to oppose Brown. But not enough.
I seriously wonder where Brown is going and why.Like Blair, he now seems hell-bent on pissing off naturallabour supporters and "appealing" to Middle England. Trouble is that he won't. Labour is on course for a huge bloodbath and it was all unnecessary........