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Green Left – We would support John McDonnell

Green Left today released the following statement: “The New Labour government have reneged on their commitment to combatting climate change by going ahead with the third runway at Heathrow. They have ridden roughshod over the opinion of many of their own MPs. John McDonnell, the local MP, may have wielded the mace for a few…

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Green Left today released the following statement:

“The New Labour government have reneged on their commitment to combatting climate change by going ahead with the third runway at Heathrow. They have ridden roughshod over the opinion of many of their own MPs. John McDonnell, the local MP, may have wielded the mace for a few moments but it was a sign of desperation, and a recognition that he wields no power in the Labour Party, far removed from its original principles.

Green Left co-convenor, Joseph Healy, said: “it’s time we stretched our hand to fellow politicians with whom we agree more than disagree. We should avoid sectarianism and give people like John McDonnell
meaningful support. While we will have no truck with a callous Labour Party, we recognise there are individuals with honour and integrity.”

” If John McDonell were to stand as an Independent at the next General Election, we would be happy to suggest to the rest of the Green Party that no candidate of ours stand against him as has indeed been agreed by the local Hillingdon Green Party”. This bold step could occur on the basis that any such independent candidate stood for meaningful action to combat climate change.”

9 responses to “Green Left – We would support John McDonnell”

  1. Neil Williams Avatar
    Neil Williams

    Shame the Green Party (and this statement is form the Green Left) cant say that John can stand and as Labour Party candidate and still get their support.

    If we are to build a progressive alliance then we must respect the views and politics of others. I am sure Respect would wish to support John McDonnell and other Left Labout MPs who are prepared to make a stand.

    The Greens really do have have sea change in the way and how they support other progressive parties and individuals! As an example will they advocate a vote for Salma Yaqoob the Respect candidate in Birmingham in the next election or avoid the issue (or even stand against!!)?

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  2. David Ellis Avatar
    David Ellis

    Bloody well said Neil. The idea that anybody would stand against or not support John because he’s in Labour is pure anarchist sectarianism. If, however, John was de-selected or expelled from Labour his natural home would be Respect which, unlike the Greens, has an orientation to the labour and trade union movement. and a socialist perspective and would put its full weight behind his re-election. His is a voice the left cannot afford to lose.

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  3. charliemarks Avatar
    charliemarks

    Aye, Neil, but then I suppose that’s a problem faced by socialists in both Labour and the Greens, namely not being seen to support other parties.

    As far as I know, John is committed to being a Labour MP.

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  4. Matt S Avatar
    Matt S

    “pure anarchist sectarianism”

    Great phrase, but it doesn’t actually, you know, mean anything. For a start, anarchists wouldn’t be refusing to vote for someone because they were a Labour candidate, but because they were standing for election without immediate recall in the first place.

    Happy for people to criticise the Green stance, but could we do so without using rhetoric that doesn’t really mean anything?

    On the main topic, I am certainly not convinced that the weight of argument is totally on the side of voting for John McD as a Labour candidate. For a start, whatever his personal views, his election as a Labour candidate would contribute to the return as a Prime Minister of a total neoliberal bastard in the shape of Gordon Brown. John McD has a great voting record, but his seat being Labour still supports the entire rotten edifice….Mandelson as Business Secretary, Darling as Chancellor, all of it.

    I think there’s a much stronger argument for Green candidates standing down where RESPECT are strong than there is for Green candidates standing down for left Labour candidates, to be honest.

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  5. David Ellis Avatar
    David Ellis

    Sorry, you took it as rhetoric. Let me be more precise: anti-working class bollox.

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  6. Matt S Avatar
    Matt S

    Well, I can see we’re going to have a really productive exchange here. I wonder why Greens might not listen to your opinions, when they are so constructively phrased and eloquently put.

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  7. Stuart King Avatar
    Stuart King

    This suggestion is unworthy of a Green Left. It is an ultimatum – leave the LP and we will support you. It is also a politically laughable ultimatum in the context of Hayes and Harlington. The Greens came second to last in the last General Election in this seat, gaining a mere 1.36% of the vote (442 votes) – John McDonnell gained nearly 59% of the votes over 19,000.

    Joseph Healy obviously has delusions of grandeur.

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  8. susan press Avatar
    susan press

    I think the Green Left should acknowledge the tremendous effort John McDonnell has put in to the Heathrow campaign and not stand a candidate in Hayes and Harlington. What exactly will they gain if a Tory takes the seat from one of our hardest-working and few committed socalist MPs.? I hope they re-think their decision and withdraw from the contest. That would be serious solidarity. And taking the mace was not a sign of desperation…but of justifiable anger.The fight continues…

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  9. charliemarks Avatar
    charliemarks

    Susan: the Green Left as a platform w/ in the Greens can’t stop a Green candidate standing against John, but I imagine that members of the local party who are affiliated to GL would be opposed to fielding a candidate.

    Stuart: could we read this statement as being about the Green Left’s positioning towards the rest of the Greens, a first step towards calling for Greens to back John?

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