A New Chance to Tackle Anti-Union Laws

This is really good news. It is important that we do not just let John get on with proposing his Bill to a hostile Parliament, but mobilise in support of it.

Press release from John McDonnell MP ...

As one door closes another one open: John McDonnell tops the poll in the Private Members' Bill Ballot.

John McDonnell MP has been drawn first in the Private Members' Bill Ballot today and has opted for a Bill to tackle abuse of trade union ballots by employers.

John McDonnell said:

"It's a funny old world, as one door closes another one opens. Coming top in this poll will enable me to tackle an abuse of the current employment laws by employers that I have tried to reform for the last 4 years."

"As we have seen in the current BA Cabin Crew dispute and many other recent disputes, employers have been able to exploit a loophole in the existing law by using minor technical errors in a trade union ballot for industrial action to frustrate the democratic decisions of trade unionists who wish to take action. This resort to the courts by some ruthless employers is bringing current employment law into disrepute and undermining industrial relations in this country. The courts are being dragged into disputes and used as weapons in the hands of bullying employers. Even where there have been overwhelming majorities in ballots in favour of strike action, minor technicalities which would have no material effect on the outcome of the ballot, are being exploited to negate the democratic decision of the trade unionists involved. This cannot be right and in the interests of good industrial relations needs to be addressed."

Note-to Editors-

Over the past four years John has made several attempts to tackle this issue by introducing amendments to the then Government's employment legislation and promoting in Parliament the TUC backed Trade Union Freedom Bill.

John McDonnell withdraws from Labour Leadership race

Via LRC

John McDonnell: I’m withdrawing from Labour leadership race

9th June 2010

Dear Comrades

I am writing to let you know that I have withdrawn from the Labour Party leadership race this morning.

I stood for the Labour leadership as the candidate of the Left and trade union movement so that there could be a proper debate about Labour’s future in which all the wings of the party were fully represented. It is now clear that I am unlikely to secure enough nominations and so I am withdrawing in the hope that we can at least secure a woman on the ballot paper.

We came into this campaign knowing that it would be really difficult to obtain sufficient nominations but we knew we had to try. The support we received from rank and file party members and from trade unionists was just overwhelming but we still could not overcome the barrier of gaining sufficient support from Labour MPs.

I appealed to the party leadership to lower the qualifying bar to allow all the candidates on the ballot paper. It was perfectly possible within the existing rules for this to be done. Reducing the bar to 5% would have allowed all the declared candidates to get on the ballot paper and the Party to have a full and open debate about its future direction. The party hierarchy refused and instead threw its weight behind one candidate.

I know that many Labour activists and trade unionists will be disappointed.

I want to thank you for all your hard work in lobbying and campaigning to secure sufficient nominations to get me on the ballot paper. You could not have worked harder.

I am urging everyone to continue the fight for democracy within the party so that in future elections rank and file members will be represented by the candidate of their choice.

We must also now throw our energies into the campaign to resist the cuts that the Coalition government is launching against our community. Providing leadership in this struggle is critically important in this coming period. We will be convening rallies and demonstrations and linking up with trade union action to resist the cuts. Let’s rise to this challenge.

Yours in solidarity,

John McDonnell MP

Dear Meg, Please Nominate John

John and I have just sent this missive to our local MP, Meg Hillier ...

Dear Meg

We are writing to you to urge you to nominate John McDonnell for Labour Party leader.

As we are sure you know, John has a long record of service to the Labour movement and the Labour party.

Where John has found himself at odds with Labour's leadership, it is usually on issues where the public support the stance taken by John rather than by the party leadership eg. opposing privatisation of public services, the Iraq war, or the third runway at Heathrow airport. We feel strongly that Labour can regain its lost support by reversing unpopular policies such as these, and could best do so under John's leadership.

We both work on London Underground, and have seen many of our workmates, often lifelong Labour voters, stop voting Labour because of issues like these and because of the disastrous Public-Private Partnership on London Underground.

Even if you do not intend to vote for John, we still urge you to nominate him, in order to ensure that he gets onto the ballot paper. If Labour is to win back its lost support, it is essential that the leadership election is a genuine debate about policies, not a contest between personalities. Many people perceive Labour to have moved away from its working-class roots and to be out-of-touch with ordinary people. Going by the candidates declared so far, if John is not on the ballot paper, then every candidate will be an Oxbridge graduate, and most will have a background as a special adviser!

Thank you.

Janine Booth & John Leach

LRC Press release-McDonnell welcomes Diane Abbott to Leadership race

Via the LRC website :

John McDonnell MP, already backed by the LRC and Unison United Left, said:

“I welcome Diane’s candidacy and urge other women and ethnic candidates to come forward from all wings of the party. We need a full and wide ranging debate about our future direction.
“I am writing today to all the so far declared candidates to ask their support for a review of the current process and timetable for nominations which has been mismanaged from the start and is now in total disarray.
“I am calling for an extension of the timetable for nominations and a reduction of the threshold so that everyone can get on the ballot paper and our members can have a full range of candidates from all wings of the party from which to choose.”

John McDonnell on the timescale for leader nominations

Its on the BBC and don't think I can embed it here, so click the link .

LRC National Committee Backs John McDonnell for leader

Via the LRC website

On Saturday, following the After the Election ... Join the Resistance!meeting, the LRC National Committee voted to back John McDonnell MP for Labour leader. Although John McDonnell has not declared his candidacy, the LRC urges him to stand as the best representative of socialist values within the Party.

The motion passed 22-0 by the National Committee read:

“The LRC endorses John McDonnell as the best candidate in the forthcoming Leadership election”.

We call on MPs to nominate John McDonnell to ensure that this time members and affiliated trade unionists get a proper choice for the next Labour Party leader. We urge LRC members and others to start lobbying Labour MPs to nominate and to pass motions in their CLPs and trade union branches to nominate John McDonnell for Labour leader.

We urge people who have left the Party to rejoin in order to vote for John. It has been confirmed that new members will be eligible to vote in the Labour leadership election.

Thanks from john McDonnell

From John :

"I just want to say thank you to everyone who gave us such fantastic support in our campaign in Hayes and Harlington. People will know that I was really worried that the combination of the New Labour's commitment to a 3rd runway and a new ward coming into the constituency would enable the Tories to take the seat with a limited national swing against Labour. I have been here before in 1992 when I lost by 54 votes.

So I was amazed that we not only won but actually increased our majority. This was because of the superb support that we received from so many people for our campaign. People just turned up from all over the country to help us. It was such an incredible and moving show of solidarity.

We could not have achieved this success without you all. The sight of so many people from all different backgrounds working together with such determination was inspirational. Thank you all so much.

Thank you also to Stroppyblog, who has worked tirelessly in helping getting word out to people about the campaign and in mobilising support and to Dave Osler for his brilliant assistance and advice on our the media campaign and his canvass footsloggng.

I will alway seek to ensure that all I do will serve to live up to the expectations and hopes of all those who worked so hard to make certain that I was re-elected. "

It was the wagon wheels wot won it

Really pleased that John McDonnell, for all his doom and gloom, retained his seat. There was only a small swing to the Tories, 1.6%, very good considering this was in the face of the Tory Party coming out against a third runway and the addition of some extra wards with a high percentage of Conservative voters .

John showed that solid Socialist principles, combined with working hard for the local people , won the day .

And the wagon wheels ? Well once supporters fought past the wild garden and into the magical little house on Pump Lane , the "man in the red jumper" had many sugary confections to keep the comrades going, including wagon wheels and doughnuts .

Result

John McDonnell Labour 23,377 54.8 -1.6
Scott Seaman-Digby Conservative 12,553 29.4 +1.7
Satnam Kaur Khalsa Liberal Democrat 3,726 8.7 -1.1
Chris Forster British National Party 1,520 3.6 +1.3
Andrew Cripps National Front 566 1.3 +1.3
Cliff Dixon English Democrats 464 1.1 +1.1
Jessica Lee Green 348 0.8 -0.6
Aneel Shahzad Christian Party 83 0.2 +0.2
Majority 10,824 25.4

Interesting story in Hayes and Harlington

Seems Dave has done a bit of digging on John McD's opponent, Scott Seaman Digby .

Check it out here on the Mirror website .

Re-elect John McDonnell

As you all know by now the election has been called.

Although John has worked tirelessly in his constiituency, especially around the runway issue, his seat is by no means safe. Although campaigning against the extension at Heathrow, the fact that the Labour Govt is supporting it is not helping.

The Tories now seem to have made this a target seat. They are pouring money in, putting out flash material, have rented a shop and Cameron visited last week. This is unheard of in the area.

So given that , what can you do to help:

- Canvass and leaflet .This is happening everyday , teams going out at 10.30,2.00 and 6pm . All welcome, go to the constituency office in Pump Lane, Hayes Middx. UB3 3NB. Tel 0208 573 3535. The office is a short distance from Hayes Station, 20 minutes by rail from Paddington.
Don't live near enough ? Well there is telephone canvassing.

- Money. Please donate. Cheques made out to Hayes and Harlington Constituency Office, address above, addressed to his agent John Holmes.

Right, off you go !

Heathrow protesters win third runway challenge for further public consultation

Good news :

Campaigners have won a High Court battle for further consultation into plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Councils, residents and green groups had said the government's approval of the runway was flawed by "conspicuously unfair" public consultations.
The group argued that the expansion decision was at odds with the UK's overall climate change targets.

The coalition which sought the judicial review into the government's decision to give the go-ahead for the expansion includes six local authorities, Greenpeace and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
The coalition said in a joint statement that the government's Heathrow policy "is in tatters this morning" after Lord Justice Carnwath ruled the decision to give the third runway the green light was "untenable".
The statement said: "If the government wants to pursue its plans for Heathrow expansion it must now go back to square one and reconsider the entire case for the runway."

Hayes and Harlington Labour MP John McDonnell, who has led the campaign against the expansion of Heathrow for the last 30 years, said: "In essence this judgment means that the game is up for a third runway at Heathrow and I am calling upon the government to accept the inevitable and lift this threat to my community.
"What we need now is a sensible approach to developing a sustainable transport policy based upon high-speed rail."

Well done .

Pic apparently is John McDonnell with campaigners with the flags of the other protesting nations at Heathrow Terminal One .

Support Paul Holmes 4 UNISON General Secretay

I'm supporting Paul Holmes for UNISON General Secretary as is UNISON United Left and John McDonnell MP. The campaign is gathering pace now with nominations coming in (Nomination period ends on the 1st April) so any stroppyblog readers that are also UNISON members please pass on his nomination request to your Branch Secretary and Branch Committee.

More info including Paul's request for nomination and UUL statement of support over on Union Futures

Paul also has a campaign blog and of course a facebook group.

Heres a video with John McDonnell MP and Paul Holmes on why John's supporting Paul.

Canvass for John McDonnell

As mentioned in an earlier post , today was the start of fortnightly canvasses to build support to re-elect John to Parliament. Having set up a facebook group, and harangued others to go, I thought it best if I went along myself :-) rather than have a lie in. I have never been to Hayes and Harlington, and having a poor sense of direction allowed plenty of time. I must admit I almost walked past the constituency offices, believing it was a cottage owned by a dotty old lady with cats . I imagined inside there were old copies of The Lady piled high in every room and a strong smell of lavender. This was on the basis of a very very overgrown garden (hmm, is this perhaps a metaphor for the left, having to battle past the brambles to get to the door ?) and a very vivid imagination. Worse was to come though when I saw the inside of John's car, Mary P had to clamber over LRC bits and bobs and compost !

Now I am a bit of an anorak and actually like canvassing, elections and all the nerdy stuff that goes with it. I enjoy knocking on doors and chatting to people , which makes a nice change from reading the blogs and sitting in meetings where lefties vie for who has read the most obscure Trotsky and still, sometimes debate the nature of the old Soviet Union.

I digress. Today was a good start. We handed out letters inviting people to come along to a public meeting on an estate where there are some problems . Generally a good reaction. Some undecided, a few no thank you's , but no abuse. Some of the responses I got was that John was a good MP, done a lot for the area and one who said he hadn't done her any harm! One woman a tad confused said yes, she would vote for John , believing him to be a Conservative. Hmm.

Highlights included a wide range of dogs, I suspect there are as many dogs on those three streets as people, and 'dressing gown man.'

What struck me was that quite a few people were aware of the hard work John has put in .Not one said anything about him being a greedy politician on the make with expenses or pointed out to me the short comings of New labour (of which I would have had to agree.) This I found heartening at a time when New Labour politicians are so out of touch and run scared of standing up for socialist values .

Afterwards it was all back to the cricket club for a well earned drink and post mortem. Lots of enthusiasm and hopefully more will turn up in future canvasses.They are every fortnight, details here , plus check out the facebook group.

Whatever people think of New Labour, I'd hope most lefties would want to see John back as an MP after the election, we can't afford to lose a strong socialist voice in the Commons. Many will be unable to even hold their nose to vote Labour, let alone campaign for their local candidate. Given this I'd argue, and this is what i'm doing,that people should lend support to those few Labour MPs and candidates that back halfway decent socialist policies . As Mary P said to me today, if your Labour candidate is a tosser, then come and help out with John. Exactly !

Oh and if that doesn't work, John was buying the drinks after and not on expenses !

The Fight to Keep John McDonnell in Parliament!

At the recent Convention of the Left, there was much talk of electoral agreements in certain areas where there were good left candidates . I hope this will apply to John McDonnell . Surely even those who happily chant Labour Out on demos , would want to see John re-elected and are not sectarian . Even those who think there will be no difference between a Labour and Tory Government , and sadly this hypothesis looks likely to be put to the test, should want to retain a good socialist voice in the Commons?

Between now and the election John needs help in his constituency to get re-elected and below is an e-mail with some details of how to get involved :


John McDonnell is appealing for help to get him re-elected. He is a hard-working constituency MP and has consistently provided a platform for socialist ideas.



John has never flinched in showing solidarity for people struggling against exploitation. He has tirelessly represented his constituency, trade unions and the wider movement, having been key in organising resistance to the Government’s neo liberal agenda both inside and outside parliament. This is not about saving one politician’s career but about defending and maximising the political representation of progressive movements throughout the UK.



Despite fighting resolutely alongside his local community and climate change activists to oppose Heathrow’s 3rd runway in his constituency, the undemocratic imposition of the runaway is damaging his chances of being re-elected. That is why he needs your support.



This Sunday, October 18th , the Hayes Labour Party is organising a mass canvass and is appealing for help. The canvass starts at 10.30 from John’s office in Pump Lane, Hayes Middx. UB3 3NB. Tel 0208 569 0010. The office is a short distance from Hayes Station, 20 minutes by rail from Paddington.



John McDonnell MP needs your support and solidarity. Our movement cannot risk losing John’s seat and the platform it provides. Bring as many activists and supporters as possible. Every fortnight from 18th October the Hayes Party will be organising a mass canvass and needs you help.


Update

I have set up a Facebook group where we can post up canvassing etc .

"GUILTY AND PROUD OF IT!" - Janine's book launch

Last Wednesday I went along to the launch of Janine's book, "GUILTY AND PROUD OF IT - POPLAR'S REBEL COUNCILLORS AND GUARDIANS 1919-25. "

It was hosted by Thompson's . There was a mix of Janine's family, John McDonnell, Bob Crow, some Lansbury's , comrades in the RMT and myself and Dave from the blogosphere.

I got there a little late and so caught the end of the solicitor from Thompson's introducing the book and mentioning Stroppyblog, which also gets a mention on the back cover:-)

John, who wrote the forward, spoke and emphasised that Janine not only detailed the story but made the connections with  today and the lessons to be learned. Janine then gave an overview of the story, complete with PowerPoint, ably assisted by her son Alex.

I filmed John and Janine speaking. Apologies as its not great as I was a bit too far away, so you can't see the pics on the PowerPoint. Bob Crow also spoke, but my arm was getting tired holding the mobile, so no film of him.

It was a good night and after the launch myself, Dave and Janine met up with Clive in a pub to carry on the celebrations.

I have a copy of the book and its on my to read pile. Check out John and Janine below , for a feel for the book. It sounds very relevant and interesting. Well done to Janine for her hard work !

Below videos. Again , apologies as the sound is low and filmed from standing at the back. It might also be a bit wobbly, but my arm was getting tired !

John McDonnell:

Janine :

The book can be ordered here.

McDonnell calls for end to faction-fighting to focus on radical policy change

Press release from John :


The expected disastrous election results for the Labour Party are now emerging, Ministers are resigning in personal faction-fights, and a Cabinet reshuffle is taking place.



John McDonnell MP argues that it is not the faces, but the policies that need to change - and urgently - if the Party is to survive.



John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said:



"The Labour Party was founded to transform our society. Undoubtedly disputes broke out in each era and were often bitterly fought but they centred on the basic policies and political direction of the party."



"Party members have looked on aghast, in disgust and anger, at the self interested, self serving political faction fighting amongst Ministers and MPs over the last week."



"It says it all that as Ministers has announced their resignations to the media not a single policy difference has been mentioned. Bouncing through a cabinet reshuffle simply to tie down potential rivals or plotters can only be a short term temporary fix."



"The message of the emerging election results continue to demonstrate the need for policy change if this Government is to survive. People have been alienated by the policies of illegal and immoral wars, privatisation of public services, attacks on civil liberties, unfettered greed in the finance sector and amongst the political class."



Also check out this article by John for Comments is Free.

John McDonnell at PCS conference

John McDonnell does a 'Heseltine' in the commons

Well not quite.

Well done John, but next time swing it above your head and flounce dramatically :-)

More on the campaign and a press release from John here.


John speaking in the debate:




Other links:

John protesting.The cameras seem to be cut near the end.

John explains why he lifted the mace.

John 4 leader ?

There are mumblings by e-mail and facebook about a potential John4Leader Campaign. Hurrah you say, an annual event for Labour lefties and fun for all.

Ok, i'll be serious.

Here is a copy of the e-mail . Tactics, thoughts, opinions most welcome in the comments box.

John4Leader 2008


Please send this letter to all your contacts



Friends and comrades,



You may remember that I was in touch with you just over a year ago. At the time, I was writing to you on behalf of John McDonnell MP's campaign for the Labour leadership, a campaign in which I was very proud to have played a key role.



As you will know, we were denied the right to a democratic contest that would have allowed us to debate the future direction of our party because of a concerted and successful effort by Gordon Brown's allies to prevent John McDonnell from getting a place on the ballot paper.



As a result, Gordon Brown was able to become leader without putting forward himself for the consideration of party members and trade unionists. This gave him a free hand to continue with the deeply unpopular New Labour policies that had proved so disastrous for the party and had already caused the removal of his predecessor, Tony Blair.



I write to you today in a strictly personal capacity. I have not discussed this with John or his parliamentary office.



It is clear that Gordon Brown's leadership is swiftly drawing to a close. It is also clear from recent local elections, parliamentary byelections, opinion polls and the total disintegration of party membership that the Labour party faces ones of the gravest crises in its history. We face the nightmare prospect of a generation or more of Tory rule.



It has been reported that various New Labour figures are preparing to stand as soon as Brown is forced from office. All supported and voted for the policies that landed Labour in its current catastrophe – such as the Iraq war, privatisation, attacks on civil liberties and cuts to public sector pay.



In the coming leadership contest, we need a candidate to stand who will fight for policies supported by the labour movement and millions of our supporters across the country - such as fair pay for public sector workers, public ownership of our services, a progressive tax system, an emergency council housing programme and an independent foreign policy. We need someone who is not compromised by voting for the very policies that have alienated our supporters.



John McDonnell is the only candidate with a consistent record, who has opposed all of New Labour's unpopular policies, who has a coherent alternative policy vision, and who has widespread support right across the labour movement.



I am therefore asking you to pledge your support for the letter below. Over the coming weeks, I will be collecting the names of a huge number of party activists, supporters, councillors, NEC members, PPCs, trade unionists and community workers and campaigners. The letter will be published in a national newspaper. Please state which CLP and/or trade union you are a member of and any relevant position you hold. You will be included in a personal capacity unless you state otherwise.



Please distribute this letter far and wide and collect as many names as possible and send them to o.p.jones@gmail.com . It would be appreciated if you could get in touch as soon as possible.



Best wishes,



Owen Jones (personal capacity)

o.p.jones@gmail.com





As a range of Labour party members, supporters, councillors, NEC representatives, trade unionists, activists, community workers and campaigners, we are concerned that the Labour party currently faces a crisis from which it may not recover for a generation or more.



We believe that the current disastrous situation has been caused by the continuation of unpopular New Labour policies that have alienated millions of our supporters right across the country.



When Gordon Brown became leader of the Labour party, we were denied a democratic debate on the future direction of the party. We believe that, if a leadership contest is to take place, there must be a range of candidates representing all wings of the party. So far all the potential successors mentioned have supported the very policies that have landed the party in its current predicament – such as the Iraq war, privatisation of our public services, pay cuts for public sector workers, attacks on civil liberties, and failures to tackle a growing housing crisis and increasing inequality. We believe the current crisis is about policies, not personalities.



We desperately need a candidate to stand who will promote policies supported by millions of our supporters across the country – such as fair pay for public sector workers, public ownership of our services, a progressive tax system, an emergency council housing programme and an independent foreign policy. We need someone who is not compromised by voting for the very policies that have alienated our supporters.



John McDonnell is the only potential candidate with a consistent record, who has opposed all of New Labour's unpopular policies, who has a coherent alternative policy vision, and who has widespread support across the labour movement. We therefore urge John McDonnell to stand when there is a vacancy and for MPs to nominate him in order for party members and trade unionists to have a genuine debate and choice about the future of our party.

Can New Labour get any worse pt 2 ?

Just spotted this on John McDonnell's website :

Threat of Emergency Powers to be Invoked against Striking Tanker Drivers

I have said all I can on the issue of the 42 days vote in the Commons in an article today on the Guardian's website "Comment is Free." I can't get much angrier at the behaviour of the Prime Minister and the Labour MPs who supported this attack on human rights. But just after the vote on 42 days detention when you thought the assault on people's civil liberties couldn't get worse the Government has briefed the press that it is threatening to invoke emergency powers in the oil tanker drivers' dispute to draft in soldiers to drive the tankers and break the strike. The drivers are members of UNITE.

When the Government introduced the Civil Contingencies Act many of us warned that it would be used against trade unionists and this latest threat from Downing Street confirms the role emergency powers can be used to undermine trade union rights.

Just at a time when there are attempts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the tanker drivers' dispute this inflammatory threat will exacerbate the situation and undermine the potential for resolving the dispute.

If the troops are brought in by the Government the leadership of UNITE will need to consider seriously whether now is the time to call for solidarity action from other union members and other unions no matter what the current law says about the illegality of solidarity action.

Any more posts like this and i'll have to rename this blog grimmerdownsouth :-)