| McDonnell reveals his vision for Irish manifesto
 MP JOHN McDONNELL has long been a powerful advocate for the Irish
community in Britain. Now he’s put his hat in the ring to become the
next leader of the Labour Party in succession to Tony Blair. He explains
to Paul Donovan why he thinks he should be the next leader and what it
would mean for Irish people. JOHN McDonnell surprised many when he
declared himself as a potential Labour leadership candidate.
But he admits it took a lot of soul-searching before he took the step.
He says: “I’d been doing meetings around the country for 12 months and
it became clear Labour Party members were becoming increasingly
concerned that there could just be a handover from Tony Blair to Gordon
Brown.
“People want an election —the Labour Party does not do coronations.
“It is also increasingly clear the policies of new Labour are so
unpopular that it could put the party out of office come the next
election.”
And McDonnell believes those who think Brown would be significantly
different to Blair are kidding themselves.
“Gordon Brown is the main architect of new Labour,” he says. “He has had
immense power and a shift from Blair to Brown would make no difference
whatever.”
McDonnell is basing his bid on appealing to the traditional support base
of the Labour Party — the working-class, ethnic minorities, trade
unions, elderly, students and social justice pressure groups.
He says: “New Labour has alienated public sector workers with its
privatisation policies, it has alienated pensioners with means testing
and students with tuition fees. The Blair wars have alienated many
people.”
Instead McDonnell sets out his own Labour programme that he believes
will appeal to the party’s traditional supporters and beyond.
“I would support investment in public services but want an end to all
privatisation,” he states.
“All the utilities should be renationalised with a particular priority
being given to the railways and air traffic control.
“There should be a state pension with the link to the earnings index
restored, not the means testing approach presently adopted.”
On education a McDonnell premiership would mean an end to student
tuition fees and on foreign policy he would withdraw Britain from the
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Britain needs to become a peacemaker in the world not a warmonger,” he
says.
McDonnell has also been disappointed at the government’s failure to
cater for the Irish community since it came to power in 1997.
He says: “The Irish community hoped there would be a clear recognition
of their status as an ethnic group.
“This should have then meant policies being developed that catered for
the needs of the community.
“This would have meant provision particularly in areas like health,
housing and social services.
“We should also have been working hand-in-hand with the Irish
Government.”
McDonnell wants to see every agency of government recognising the Irish
as an ethnic group and developing a sustainable policy.
On Northern Ireland he pays tribute to the role played by Tony Blair and
John Major before him in bringing the peace process to fruition.
But he believes a firm hand is particularly needed now with the
Unionists.
He sayd: “The institutions and democratic rule need to be reinstated.
Any weakness by the Prime Minister at this time could be seen by the
Unionists as a chance to veto the peace process again.”
He is also well aware of the parallels between how the Irish were
treated previously under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and how
the Asian community are today with the war on terror. He says: “During
the 1970s and 80s the Irish community were exposed to the PTA.
“There were the arrests and detentions and then the Guildford Four,
Birmingham Six and other miscarriages of justice yet the PTA then was
mild compared to some of the draconian measures the government has
brought in recently.
“There is a very real fear that we will be campaigning in the future for
those being arrested and detained now as miscarriages of justice.”
He would look to repeal the anti-terror laws passed by the government
and instead look to address the causes of terrorism.
“It is a question of how you address the causes of terrorism,” he
explains.
“It is not just by legal means but by looking to the causes that
motivate people to take such actions.
“It has much to do with addressing Britain’s foreign policy and how
people are being treated in Britain in terms of discrimination and
deprivation.”
And he holds up the Irish as an example of how incoming migrants can
enrich Britain.
He says: “The Irish represent a brilliant example of what migrants
coming into a country can contribute.
“The Irish have been able to integrate into the British community but
also open out to enrich and benefit that community.”
And he wants the Irish community to get involved in the Labour Party
leadership battle.
He believes the natural affinity the Irish have for the Labour Party
means that they still hold strong sway within the 190,000 membership.
When active Irish trade unionists are added in the community represents
an important grouping in the leadership contest.
McDonnell says: “I would urge the Irish community to get involved in the
leadership battle. This is a real opportunity to develop an Irish
manifesto.”
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