I'm standing down from the Leadership race
Michael Meacher urges Left to unite behind John McDonnell as candidate for Labour leadership
Michael Meacher has stood down in favour of John McDonnell in the contest for the Labour leadership.
Meacher and McDonnell met today in a bid to ensure there will be a challenge to Gordon Brown. After discussions it was decided that McDonnell had the greater number of nominations.
Meacher will stand down and give his support to McDonnell and is urging all his supporters to get behind the sole left candidate.
Meacher said:
“The left is standing on a clear platform in this leadership election. We must tackle the growing inequality between rich and poor; we need a major programme of building social housing; we must deal with poverty in retirement; we need an independent foreign policy; we should reverse privatisation in public services; and we have to restore British democracy and end the presidential style of government. Most importantly we simply have to tackle the single greatest threat facing mankind – climate change. That’s the agreed position for the left, it’s what John and I have been campaigning on for months and it’s the platform on which we stand united.
“John McDonnell has won more of the nominations. I am therefore happy to stand down on his behalf and I will be strongly urging my supporters to back the united left candidate.
“The really good news is that together the numbers of nominations are sufficient to get a candidate onto the ballot paper.
“John and I have both said there should be a debate and a contest, not a coronation. That is what the party and the public want and I encourage as many members of the Parliamentary Labour Party as possible to get behind John to ensure this happens.”
Comments
Thank you, Michael, for making this decision - you've given the broader Labour movement a clear choice in the leadership election. I hope that the initiative and ideas you've raised in the early stages of the leadership campaign can now be put to good use in support of John McDonnell, and that all the MPs who had indicated they would support you will now nominate John. It's vital that ordinary Labour Party members, and members of the affiliated trade unions, are given a choice!
Posted by: Nick Holden | May 14, 2007 06:37 PM
Michael.
Huge thanks for today. You approached the press conference today with the dignity of a genuine socialist.Lets all fight together for a victory for John McDonnell and give back to the Labour Party a 21st Century socialist vision.
Comradely
Ian
Posted by: Ian | May 14, 2007 10:18 PM
An honourable move Michael, and selfless act for the Labour Party.
Lets all come together and get John on that ballot paper.
Posted by: Jonathan Millins | May 15, 2007 12:07 PM
Hi there
I just wanted to send a comradely greeting of best wishes to Michael Meacher, after he graciously stepped down in favour of John McDonnell in the leadership campaign today. I'd be grateful if you would pass this on to him.
As a supporter of McDonnell's bid, and a member of the Scottish Labour Party Cmpaign for Socialism, I appreciate Michael's decision to stand down, as I think it will allow the best possible campaign to be mobilised, and I hope and expect he will support that.
I thought that the way Michael conducted his bid was honourable and - contrary to some people - didn't actually think it damaged the left. Michael had every right to put himself forward. I attended one of the CfS meetings last year when we listened to his case, and I was impressed by his argument in favour of increased democracy in the party, although ultimately I thought John McDonnell's more active grassroots campaign was really the best way to go forward.
From what I have seen of last night's Fabian "hustings" it looked to me as though John and Michael usefully set out the agenda for the left challenge to Gordon Brown face to face - and credit to him, he was there to hear and debate it. I suspect our current leader may not have been prepared to offer his opponents such a platform.
So - all the best, and I hope we see Michael in Scotland in support of the John McDonnell campaign, as I expect we would have seen John supporting Michael had the roles been reversed today.
In comradeship
Malky
x
Malcolm Burns
member of :
Glasgow Central CLP
Glasgow Kelvin Scottish Parliamentary Forum Scottish Labour Party Campaign for Socialism
Posted by: Malky | May 15, 2007 03:47 PM
I would like to compliment you on your speech you made at the press conference yesterday and to thank you for supporting John McDonnell in his bid to get his name on the ballot paper. Let's hope he is successful and we can have a proper debate on the future direction of the party.
Regards, Paul.
Posted by: Paul Mansell | May 15, 2007 04:15 PM