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.”