Micheal Meacher is about to announce that he’s running for Labour leader. Of course, not content with wrecking John McDonnell’s chances, he’s also going to try and split the left vote. While the challenges facing McDonnell are huge, a united campaign around McDonnell is an excellent chance to ignite a fight inside the Labour Party for socialist ideas.
Owen Jones of SYN and John’s campaign is urging people to email Meacher - send them emails to meacherm@parliament.uk - and try to “gently persuade” Meacher not to be a complete arse and not to stand. I don’t know if I could “gently persuade” Meacher not to stand, but you might be better able than I to hold in your anger and make sure you stay off MI5’s terrorist watchlist.
Dave Osler - when he’s not arguing with Stroppybird about mobile phones on my blog - thinks it has the stench of Socialist Action all over it. I think he’s wrong (especially since SAct operate through the Socialist Campaign Group, who are backing McDonnell) but I don’t think Meacher needed any encouragement from anyone - renegade “Trotskyist” arsekissers or otherwise.
Just got back from the McDonnell meeting in brighton (will do a post and Jon Rogers has one on his site). It was really positive and it does feel like the left is starting to become energised in the Party again. It is about policies and building from the bottom up. Its just so depressing that Meacher is doing this. For what ? All it will do is damage the left further when McDonnells campiagn is actually one that is uniting campaigns . As Osler put it, Bastards !!
Oh and will stop bickering with Osler on your blog
Are the SCG backing McDonnell? I saw Alan Simpson’s name down as for Meacher.
The position of the SCG isn’t clear, it may have been eaten by the LRC.
What is Meacher doing? he really is pissing it up for the hard left… He has practically no support.
I reckon Osler was right - but the gambit fucked up.