Meacher to challenge Brown for Leadership

[Luke Warmthighs]

A McDonnell led government would implement radically different policies from one led by Brown.

No it wouldn't. How the hefty fuck would McDonnell the most leftie MP in the party get it to except his ideas?

Even if he had a chance of getting in. This is what makes his campaign utterly meaningless to the public at large.

 

[kyser_soze]

'Pleased to meacher'

Fuck me I'm funny...

 

[Nigel Irritable]

MPs can nominate as many candidates as they like.

An MP would have to be a complete fruitcake, concerned neither with future advancement nor how s/he is percieved, to want to nominate two rival candidates. There are in my experience few New Labour MPs lacking all of (a) basic animal cunning, (b) personal ambition and (c) concern for their personal image.

 

[danny la rouge]

If you've never seen or heard Stephen Pund before you're very lucky. However you clearly watch very little TV as the man is continually popping up on every news and current affairs programme.

I watch a lot of TV. Far too much, in fact. But I never watch news or current affairs. Especially current affairs.

 

[tim]

An MP would have to be a complete fruitcake, concerned neither with future advancement nor how s/he is percieved, to want to nominate two rival candidates. There are in my experience few New Labour MPs lacking all of (a) basic animal cunning, (b) personal ambition and (c) concern for their personal image.

It's not those ambitious young new Labour ;MP's that will nominate either or both of them, though. It will be those in the "old" Labour rump: the Skinners, the Corbyns the Marshall-Andrews; and those others who have been sacked or past over in the by Bòlair and are now to old or incompetent to believe that they could make a come back under Brown: the Shorts, Dobsons and Jacksons.

 

[HarrisonSlade]

Meacher is a pathetic charleton with absolutely no proper political experience to his name apart from a few Mickey Mouse ministerial positions Blair put him in so he could ignore him with a lot more ease.

He has obviously put himself forward so that he could split the left vote for John McDonnell, thus securing himself a place in a Gordon Brown Cabinet.

McDonnell is absolutely weighed down with political experience, from his time as a highly influencial GLC councillor to his leadership of the parliamentary SCG.

Meacher has given nothing, and knows he will get nothing in return. Apart from a cushy number from Gordon Brown for destroying the only chance the Labour Party has of getting back to it's roots.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

It's not those ambitious young new Labour ;MP's that will nominate either or both of them, though. It will be those in the "old" Labour rump: the Skinners, the Corbyns the Marshall-Andrews; and those others who have been sacked or past over in the by Bòlair and are now to old or incompetent to believe that they could make a come back under Brown: the Shorts, Dobsons and Jacksons.

I don't agree that all of the people you have mentioned by name are likely to nominate either McDonnell or Meacher. But I do agree that the nominations they are chasing are from the remnants of the left and then from mavericks with nothing to lose who want a contest or hate Brown.

The problem is that there just aren't enough such people to guarantee one slot on the ballot paper, and there certainly aren't enough to get two.

 

[shagnasty]

what i have noticed is that j m is not getting that bad a press most papers seem to quote him in respect to reports of nu labour policy

 

[glenquagmire]

McDonnell camp's response to Meacher: http://socialistyouthnetwork.blogspot.com/2007/02/meacher-debacle-boosts-john4leader.html

And to those who think that the campaign is only of interest to students and old Trots, I would suggest you have a look down the list of TU organisations which have backed it.

 

[nino_savatte]

I see that hideous woman, Blears, has thrown her hat into the ring for the Deputy Leadership.

I'd be surprised if Meacher gets anyone to support him.

 

[Streathamite]

McDonnell camp's response to Meacher: http://socialistyouthnetwork.blogspot.com/2007/02/meacher-debacle-boosts-john4leader.html

And to those who think that the campaign is only of interest to students and old Trots, I would suggest you have a look down the list of TU organisations which have backed it.

true - but the major TU leaders will sew this up undemocratically for Brown.
Blears - AAAARGHH!!

 

[glenquagmire]

How? There is no block vote in this electoral college - the votes are shared out according to the votes of the members so the only influence the TU leaders have is to advise members how to vote.

 

[Streathamite]

ahh I thought there were block votes.
still don't think JM has a prayer, for all he's a decent bloke

 

[nino_savatte]

ahh I thought there were block votes.
still don't think JM has a prayer, for all he's a decent bloke

Same here, Brown will be crowned Leader, in spite of the veneer of democracy.

 

[Streathamite]

sadly yes.
thank fuck I'm out of all of that now

 

[Fisher_Gate]

How? There is no block vote in this electoral college - the votes are shared out according to the votes of the members so the only influence the TU leaders have is to advise members how to vote.

McDonnell will get quite a decent vote in the Trade Union section, if, and it's a big if, he's on the ballot paper. Most people voting in this election will be activists and McDonnell is speaking the language they want to hear. He will do much worse in the Constituency Parties and MP's sections.

 

[articul8]

I wouldn't exaggerate the scale of the vote McDonnell would get in the TU section either. The big players (ie. Prentis, Woodley, Kenny etc.) will be trying (vainly of course)to influence Brown and won't risk putting that at risk by backing someone with no chance of winning.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

I wouldn't exaggerate the scale of the vote McDonnell would get in the TU section either. The big players (ie. Prentis, Woodley, Kenny etc.) will be trying (vainly of course)to influence Brown and won't risk putting that at risk by backing someone with no chance of winning.

Sure but I think McDonnell could get 20% or more in unions like Unison on the back of a big activist base.

 

[audiotech]

This barefaced and opportunistic manouvre from multiplex Meacher guarantee's him a seat in the House of Lords.

 

[nightbreed]

Meacher is an oppurtunist charlatan, in my view put up by the Brown camp because of the effect John McDonnell campaign is having amongst Trade Unionists.Some of the TU leaders are shitting themselves because of this as the effects of J McD's campaign will put pressure on them to perform.

John McD's campaign has brought the ideas of socialism to a trade union audience. I believe that even if he doesnt get on the ballot paper the campaign would have served its purpose in reactivating trade unionists with a purpose to fight for.
No other left group has done that in recent times so consistently.

 

[glenquagmire]

Sure but I think McDonnell could get 20% or more in unions like Unison on the back of a big activist base.

I think he can get above 20% in both the TUs and the CLPs. As you say, it will be active members who are mainly voting, and there is little enthusiasm for Gordon Brown among the memberships of the LP or the unions in my personal experience. Turnout will be about 30%, I reckon.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

I think he can get above 20% in both the TUs and the CLPs. As you say, it will be active members who are mainly voting, and there is little enthusiasm for Gordon Brown among the memberships of the LP or the unions in my personal experience. Turnout will be about 30%, I reckon.

Quite possible. I think his vote will be higher in the TUs than the CLPs though. 20 years ago it would have been the other way round of course.

 

[brogdale]

McDonnell shad chancellor and Meacher dead. Who'd have thunk it?

 

[Sprocket.]

Bumping a thread to announce a death, first time I've seen that!
Mr Meacher didn't like a fuss though.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Did Meacher ever get to be PM though? I think we should be told.

 

[Sprocket.]

He was for a time when Tony Benn was not in the commons referred to as 'Tony Benn's vicar on earth.'

 

[nino_savatte]

Blimey! Meacher had died just as his ex-wife was planning to scupper the government's tax credit cuts in the Lords.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Mr Meacher didn't like a fuss though.

Especially not over second homes

 

[killer b]

One conference a mate and I drove to Blackpool in the hope of having a burger with Bill Clinton - Clinton had already fucked off, so instead we had to make do with Meacher gambolling in the surf in his speedos

 

[gimesumtruf]

McDonnell shad chancellor and Meacher dead. Who'd have thunk it?

GOOD.