Statement from John McDonnell on leadership
10:44 am - June 9th 2010
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This is the statement John McDonnell MP has circulated today on his withdrawal from the Labour leadership race.
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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I am writing to let you know that I have withdrawn from the Labour Party leadership race this morning.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
Update – interview on Sky News
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Reader comments
Still think John was more likely to get the 33 than Diane & she should’ve stood down, (it doesn’t bode well for any future deal between left candidates in a similar situation as it will encourage individuals to think they can be the one that doesn’t stand down even if they have less nominations) but respect his decision that someone has to take the bullet and stand down in time for their supporters to nominate the other candidate before the deadline today.
Typical of John’s selflessness, really. Although I imagine he will be a bit relieved really as I understand he wasn’t as keen to stand as he was in 2007 and basically did it at the behest of the Labour movement. Again, indicative of his total selflessness and self-discipline that he threw himself into it.
Good man. He could’ve made it explicit in his statement that he wants his nominees to support Diane – however, as I understand it, once MPs nominate someone they can’t switch support. Is this true?
@2
They can only switch if their nominated candidate withdraws, so by withdrawing John was facilitating that process. He couldn’t make it more clear what he would like people who nominated him to do than by indicating he would be nominating Diane Abbott himself.
Ha ha – disgraceful little man.
Surely you got the message that Labour MPs dont want you it’s not the voting system,it’s you!
I was very upset when john withdrew because he was our only hope of challenging the nice oxbridge pseudo working class leadership
@ Dick the Prick: Your name is well chosen. Who gave the MPs the right to decide alone who appears on the ballot paper? They are there in the PLP to represent those who supported them with their money, time, enthusiasm and commitment as grass roots labour movement activists – however much it stuck in the craw to support some of the NL sycophants. It’s time the grass roots took back the power stolen from them… If you don’t like that form of democracy go and join the Tories – even the liberals paid lip-service to a more democratic internal process when addressing their coalition negotiations.
@ John J Shanahan: same to you as well
Reactions: Twitter, blogs
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Judy Smith
RT @libcon: Full statement from John McDonnell http://bit.ly/9S78RT
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sunny hundal
The full statement by John McDonnell on why he has withdrawn is here: http://bit.ly/9S78RT (incl TV interview)
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Jackart
John McDonnell starts his letter to the Labour party about why he's standing aside "Dear Comrades". Oh Dear! http://goo.gl/e8mj
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bella mack
RT @sunny_hundal: The full statement by John McDonnell on why he has withdrawn is here: http://bit.ly/9S78RT (incl TV interview)
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Therese
Shame. :< https://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/06/09/full-statement-from-john-mcdonnell/
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Martin Mayer
Statement from John McDonnell on leadership | Liberal Conspiracy http://ht.ly/17FSkP
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Liberal Conspiracy
Full statement from John McDonnell http://bit.ly/9S78RT
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[…] Is this the end for the socialist left? by Sunny Hundal June 9, 2010 at 10:00 am Update: John McDonnell has withdrawn. Full statement […]
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yorkierosie
RT @libcon: Full statement from John McDonnell http://bit.ly/9S78RT
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[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Liberal Conspiracy and Judy Smith, yorkierosie. yorkierosie said: RT @libcon: Full statement from John McDonnell http://bit.ly/9S78RT […]
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DianeAbbott 4Leader
RT @libcon: Full statement from John McDonnell http://bit.ly/9S78RT
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