George's Blog

The idea of a 'coronation' for Gordon Brown as Labour leader was surely always a rather naive one. Such thoughts neglected to recognise the significant minority in the PLP who saw Brown as as much of a representative of New Labour as Tony Blair, and whom were quite prepared to put forward an alternative view of Labour values.

Yesterday that alternative view lifted itself above the parapet once more in the form of John McDonnell (pictured left), MP for Hayes and Harlington, and Chair of both the socialist Campaign Group of MPs and the Labour Representation Committee. As McDonnell declared at the annual Old Labour jamboree that is the Durham Miners Gala: "Some are saying that there needs to be a smooth transition, a coronation, but that would mean no change because Gordon Brown is the architect of many current policies...There will be no coronation." Although McDonnell refrained from personally declaring a leadership bid, using the old Bennite aphorism, "It's not about personalities but policy", it is implicitly accepted in left-wing circles that McDonnell, with his formal bases, will stand.

It would be easy to dismiss McDonnell as another token 'hard left' MP but the reality is somewhat more complicated. Up to a point it may be politically expedient for Brown to contrast his centrist views with a left-wing alternative, as in his recent support for Trident, but the articulate and confident McDonnell with the chance to put forward a distinct programme could well win support from outside traditional hard-left circles. Centre-left MPs such as Clare Short, who following Brown's Trident declaration will no longer back him , Frank Dobson, Michael Meacher and Glenda Jackson may in the end chose to rally behind an anti-war, anti-privatisation, anti-Trident platform. McDonnell has also been cannily laying the groundwork for potential trade union support (40% of leadership contest votes), chairing the Public Services Not Private Profit campaign backed by 16 unions.

While still very unlikely to win, McDonnell may well be the MP to open up a real debate about the direction forward, bringing an end to what Blair in The Guardian called 'coded critiques'. May a challenger from the left also inspire the re-emergence of a Blairite outrider?

The potential situation reminds me in a strange way of the dispute over Labour's candidate for London Mayor. That time it was a left-wing alternative in the form of Ken Livingstone who won through in the final contest. Interestingly enough, Livingstone's deputy on the old GLC? John McDonnell.