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John McDonnell: I'm not good at consensus politics John McDonnell: I'm not good at consensus politics
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn’s closest political ally, John McDonnell, has admitted he is more combative than the new Labour leader, amid signs of fierce resistance within the parliamentary party to his appointment as shadow chancellor. Jeremy Corbyn’s closest political ally, John McDonnell, has admitted he is more combative than the new Labour leader, as signs of fierce resistance emerged within the parliamentary party to his appointment as shadow chancellor.
McDonnell told a fringe meeting at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton that he was not very good at the consensual style of politics Corbyn has promised to bring to his leadership, or respecting people who disagree with him. McDonnell told a fringe meeting at the TUC conference in Brighton that he was not very good at the consensual style of politics Corbyn has promised to usher in, or at respecting people who disagree with him.
He also told the Guardian on Sunday night that Labour under Corbyn will not give a “free pass” to David Cameron by saying whether it would support or reject an EU referendum. He also told the Guardian on Sunday night that Labour under Corbyn would not give a “free pass” to David Cameron on the EU by saying whether or not the party would campaign for Britain’s continued membership in the run-up to any referendum on the subject.
Hours later, Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Corbyn would fight to stay in the EU “under all circumstances”. It was not clear on Monday who was stating Corbyn’s true position on the EU referendum. Related: John McDonnell: the loyal Corbyn ally whose rebelliousness could cause a stir
Among senior Labour figures, McDonnell’s appointment was seen as a disavowal of Corbyn’s commitment to create a political consensus, as well as a failure to create gender balance at the top of the party. Hours later, Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Corbyn would fight to stay in the EU “under all circumstances”. It was not clear who was stating Corbyn’s true position.
Charles Clarke, a former home secretary, said on Today that he was “aghast” at the appointment and took it as an indication that Corbyn was appointing hard-left allies instead of building a broad-based shadow cabinet. McDonnell’s appointment was seen among senior Labour figures as a disavowal of Corbyn’s commitment to create a political consensus, and a failure to create gender balance at the top of the party.
Benn declined to offer a full endorsement of McDonnell. Asked if he was 100% behind the appointment, Benn told Today: “This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader.” Charles Clarke, a former home secretary, said on Today that he was aghast at the appointment and took it as an indication that Corbyn was appointing hard-left allies instead of building a broad-based shadow cabinet.
Benn declined to offer a full endorsement of McDonnell. Asked if he was 100% behind the appointment, he said: “This is the choice that Jeremy has made. I respect the choice that Jeremy has made as leader.”
McDonnell acknowledged his reputation as a political bruiser at a meeting organised by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) at the Corn Exchange in Brighton on Sunday night.McDonnell acknowledged his reputation as a political bruiser at a meeting organised by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) at the Corn Exchange in Brighton on Sunday night.
An hour before he was named shadow chancellor on Sunday, McDonnell told the audience: “Jeremy’s style has been consensual. And what has been appreciated throughout the campaign of the last 12 weeks was to introduce something which hasn’t been in British politics for a long while. It is called kindness. It means that you respect one another in a debate even if you disagree. An hour before he was named shadow chancellor, he told the audience: “Jeremy’s style has been consensual, and what has been appreciated throughout the campaign of the last 12 weeks was to introduce something which hasn’t been in British politics for a long while. It is called kindness. It means that you respect one another in a debate even if you disagree.
“But I am not very good at that. That is why I am not the leader of the Labour party,” he said, to laughter and a round of applause.“But I am not very good at that. That is why I am not the leader of the Labour party,” he said, to laughter and a round of applause.
Speaking to the Guardian later, McDonnell said Corbyn would take a view on the EU referendum package when David Cameron presented a deal. “Jeremy has made it clear that what we should be working with parties across Europe for is a reform package across Europe itself. Whatever Cameron comes back with, we will have to assess what that is.Speaking to the Guardian later, McDonnell said Corbyn would take a view on the EU referendum package when David Cameron presented a deal. “Jeremy has made it clear that what we should be working with parties across Europe for is a reform package across Europe itself. Whatever Cameron comes back with, we will have to assess what that is.
“If it is any attack on employment rights or the promotion of TTIP [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] we will be rejecting that package, but we will have to come up with a reform programme as well. Jeremy has not supported withdrawal but has not given Cameron a free pass on it.” “If it is any attack on employment rights or the promotion of TTIP [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] we will be rejecting that package, but we will have to come up with a reform programme as well. Jeremy has not supported withdrawal, but has not given Cameron a free pass on it.”
Hours later, on the Today programme, Benn said Corbyn would campaign to stay within the EU. He said: “Jeremy has made it very clear that we are going to stay to fight together for a better Europe. We will be campaigning to remain in the European Union ... Under all circumstances.” Related: Corbyn finishes shadow cabinet reshuffle, saying it combines 'change and continuity' - Politics live
At the PCS meeting, McDonnell defended the shadow cabinet appointments which were soon to be declared, but hinted the process of putting together a frontbench team had been fraught. On Monday’s Today programme, Benn said Corbyn would campaign to stay in the EU. He said: “Jeremy has made it very clear that we are going to stay to fight together for a better Europe. We will be campaigning to remain in the European Union … under all circumstances.”
At the PCS meeting, McDonnell defended the shadow cabinet appointments which were soon to be announced, but hinted that the process of putting together a frontbench team had been fraught.
“I am hoping that within the hour we will have a shadow cabinet put together,” he said. “As you know, that has been slightly more challenging than the traditional shadow cabinet. It will be as broad-based as we could possibly make it and as inclusive as possible.”“I am hoping that within the hour we will have a shadow cabinet put together,” he said. “As you know, that has been slightly more challenging than the traditional shadow cabinet. It will be as broad-based as we could possibly make it and as inclusive as possible.”
Speaking to Sky News on Monday, McDonnell defended Corbyn’s failure to appoint any women to what have traditionally been seen as the top positions in opposition – shadow chancellor, shadow home secretary and shadow foreign secretary. Speaking to Sky News on Monday, he defended Corbyn’s failure to appoint any women to what have traditionally been seen as the top positions - shadow chancellor, shadow home secretary and shadow foreign secretary.
“They are not top jobs,” he said. “I don’t accept that. You can’t say that foreign secretary is more important than delivering education to our children, or the health of the population. We don’t accept those hierarchies.”“They are not top jobs,” he said. “I don’t accept that. You can’t say that foreign secretary is more important than delivering education to our children, or the health of the population. We don’t accept those hierarchies.”
In a bid to allay criticism, Corbyn made a decision to offer Angela Eagle, the new shadow business secretary, an extra role as shadow first secretary of state, meaning she will deputise for him in the Commons. In a bid to allay criticism, Corbyn offered Angela Eagle, the new shadow business secretary, an extra role as shadow first secretary of state, meaning she will deputise for him in the Commons.
A member of his team was overhead by Sky News saying they should give her the role because they were taking a “fair amount of shit out there about women”. Sky News reported overhearing member of his team saying they should give her the role because they were taking a “fair amount of shit out there about women”.
A full list of shadow cabinet ministers has now been unveiled with more than half of the key posts going to women but the top jobs still held by men. A full list of shadow cabinet ministers has now been unveiled, with more than half of the key posts going to women.
McDonnell, who served as head of finance at the now-defunct Greater London Council under Ken Livingstone, shared a platform at the PCS meeting with Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister. He quipped that some people were already trying to compare him to Varoufakis because of his anti-austerity views. “Someone said to me, ‘Are you going to be Britain’s Yanis Varoufakis?’ And I said, ‘I could never be that cool,’” he said, to laughter from the audience. Related: Jeremy Corbyn appoints ally John McDonnell as shadow chancellor
At the meeting, he described the government’s trade union bill, due to be debated in parliament on Monday, as an “existential threat” to the Labour movement. McDonnell, who served as head of finance at the now-defunct Greater London Council under Ken Livingstone, shared a platform at the PCS meeting with Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister.
“The Labour party is unanimously opposed. We will be working with the other parties in opposition. There are a number of Conservatives who are anxious about the bill because employers are worried about the change in the industrial relations climate as a result,” he said. He quipped that some people were already trying to compare him to Varoufakis because of his anti-austerity views. “Someone said to me: ‘Are you going to be Britain’s Yanis Varoufakis?’ And I said: ‘I could never be that cool,’” he said to laughter from the audience.
He described the government’s trade union bill, due to be debated in parliament on Monday, as an existential threat to the Labour movement.
“The Labour party is unanimously opposed. We will be working with the other parties in opposition. There are a number of Conservatives who are anxious about the bill, because employers are worried about the change in the industrial relations climate as a result,” he said.
“So what we are going to try and do, if we can’t defeat the bill, is ameliorate the bill. One of our big demands is for electronic balloting in the workplace. If we can’t get that in the Commons, we will have to focus on the Lords campaign by putting it in a civil liberties context.”“So what we are going to try and do, if we can’t defeat the bill, is ameliorate the bill. One of our big demands is for electronic balloting in the workplace. If we can’t get that in the Commons, we will have to focus on the Lords campaign by putting it in a civil liberties context.”