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Meacher enters Labour leader race Meacher enters Labour leader race
(about 1 hour later)
Veteran MP and former minister Michael Meacher has launched a challenge to Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership, promising a left-wing agenda.Veteran MP and former minister Michael Meacher has launched a challenge to Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership, promising a left-wing agenda.
He called for Trident nuclear weapons to be scrapped, huge investment in renewable energy, curbs on City bonuses and nationalisation of the railways.He called for Trident nuclear weapons to be scrapped, huge investment in renewable energy, curbs on City bonuses and nationalisation of the railways.
He claims to have enough MPs' support to get onto the ballot and insists he has a chance of winning.He claims to have enough MPs' support to get onto the ballot and insists he has a chance of winning.
Fellow left-wing leadership contender John McDonnell said he would fight on.Fellow left-wing leadership contender John McDonnell said he would fight on.
"We have been expecting Michael's announcement for over nine months. It doesn't change things," said Mr McDonnell, who began his campaign last July."We have been expecting Michael's announcement for over nine months. It doesn't change things," said Mr McDonnell, who began his campaign last July.
Government criticGovernment critic
Mr Meacher is one of Labour's longest-serving MPs, having had jobs in the Wilson and Callaghan governments of the 1970s. Mr Meacher is one of Labour's longest-serving MPs, having had ministerial jobs in the Wilson and Callaghan governments of the 1970s.
Since being sacked as an environment minister in 2003, he has been a vocal critic of the government, particularly on its environment policy.Since being sacked as an environment minister in 2003, he has been a vocal critic of the government, particularly on its environment policy.
It is not sustainable to continue as America's glove puppet Michael MeacherIt is not sustainable to continue as America's glove puppet Michael Meacher
The Oldham West and Royton MP was flanked by Ian Gibson and Kelvin Hopkins, two prominent backbenchers from the Labour left, as he launched what he said was a "centre-left" bid for the leadership.The Oldham West and Royton MP was flanked by Ian Gibson and Kelvin Hopkins, two prominent backbenchers from the Labour left, as he launched what he said was a "centre-left" bid for the leadership.
He said Labour members deserved a say in the party's future direction and insisted it was not a "foregone conclusion" that Gordon Brown would be the next prime minister.He said Labour members deserved a say in the party's future direction and insisted it was not a "foregone conclusion" that Gordon Brown would be the next prime minister.
He called for a new direction on foreign policy, which he said should be "based on fundamental British interests, not subservience to the US".He called for a new direction on foreign policy, which he said should be "based on fundamental British interests, not subservience to the US".
He added: "It is not sustainable to continue as America's glove puppet."He added: "It is not sustainable to continue as America's glove puppet."
He also called for the renationalisation of the railways and said the national minimum wage should be raised to £6 an hour quickly, and to £7 an hour "soon after". He also called for the renationalisation of the railways and said the national minimum wage should be raised to £7 an hour.
"We need a new social policy if the growing divisions within our society are to be healed.
"Frankly it's not sustainable to be doling out £9bn in city bonuses to a few thousand city high fliers, at the same time as 12.5 million people in the same society...remain in poverty."
'Biggest mistake''Biggest mistake'
He hit back at criticism from Mr McDonnell over his support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also hit back at criticism from Mr McDonnell over his support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
It's a pity because, frankly, he's going to get humiliated Stephen Pound Profile: Michael Meacher Analysis: Brown challengedIt's a pity because, frankly, he's going to get humiliated Stephen Pound Profile: Michael Meacher Analysis: Brown challenged
"The biggest political mistake of my life was over the Iraq war. I believed the prime minister when he said there was a growing and imminent threat," said Mr Meacher."The biggest political mistake of my life was over the Iraq war. I believed the prime minister when he said there was a growing and imminent threat," said Mr Meacher.
He said some of Mr Blair's comments in the run up to war "stretched the truth".He said some of Mr Blair's comments in the run up to war "stretched the truth".
Only a handful of Labour MPs turned up to the launch of Mr Meacher's campaign, but he claims to have the backing of 30 with 25 more ready to lend their support. On the environment Mr Meacher said "We are at war on climate change."
Leadership candidates need 44 signatures from Labour MPs to get on to the ballot. "We need profound change in every aspect of government and our way of life."
'Faintly ridiculous''Faintly ridiculous'
Mr Meacher's campaign claims to have the backing of "about 30" Labour MPs, although he said he was not prepared to name them at this stage.
Leadership candidates need 44 signatures from Labour MPs to get on to the ballot.
But Labour MP Stephen Pound, who described Mr Meacher as a "faintly ridiculous" figure, said he would be surprised if the veteran left-winger managed to get the required support.But Labour MP Stephen Pound, who described Mr Meacher as a "faintly ridiculous" figure, said he would be surprised if the veteran left-winger managed to get the required support.
"It's a pity because, frankly, he's going to get humiliated," said the Ealing North MP.
"I suspect he knows that, if he put his ego to one side a bit he would realise that.
The chancellor is the favourite to succeed Mr BlairThe chancellor is the favourite to succeed Mr Blair
"Michael Meacher is a major figure on the British political scene, yet the majority of people I have spoken to, who came into Parliament in the last six or seven years, just said: 'Who?' They didn't know who he was." "It's a pity because, frankly, he's going to get humiliated," said the Ealing North MP.
"I suspect he knows that, if he put his ego to one side a bit he would realise that."
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some Labour MPs would welcome a contest and Gordon Brown himself might prefer a contest to a "coronation", as it would give his leadership more of a mandate.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some Labour MPs would welcome a contest and Gordon Brown himself might prefer a contest to a "coronation", as it would give his leadership more of a mandate.
There is also speculation Mr Meacher's challenge will flush out a Blairite challenger from the Cabinet ranks.
Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman, a contender for the deputy leadership, welcomed the prospect of a full-blown leadership contest.
'No bad thing''No bad thing'
She told BBC Radio Berkshire: 'It's the Labour members, the Labour Party members' right to vote for the new leader and deputy leader. And Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman, a contender for the deputy leadership, told BBC Radio Berkshire she would nominate Gordon Brown but added: "I think actually a contest is no bad thing."
"And although there is overwhelming support for Gordon Brown and I myself strongly support Gordon Brown and I will be nominating him, I think actually a contest is no bad thing." There is also speculation Mr Meacher's challenge will flush out a Blairite leadership contender from the Cabinet ranks.
I have asked Michael to come on board with our campaign, but he's chosen to go his own way Left-wing leadership challenger John McDonnell
Mr McDonnell, who will be competing with Mr Meacher for left-wing Labour backing, said he had the support of about 22 MPs, and would not drop out of the race.Mr McDonnell, who will be competing with Mr Meacher for left-wing Labour backing, said he had the support of about 22 MPs, and would not drop out of the race.
He said: "Labour Party members will still have the same choice between my record of voting against the war in Iraq, voting against tuition fees, voting against privatisation of our public services and cuts in benefits and the record of those ministers and former ministers like Gordon Brown and Michael Meacher, who have consistently voted for these policies." He said Labour members would judge the candidates on their records, and while he had voted against tuition fees, the Iraq war, privatisation and benefit cuts, Mr Brown and Mr Meacher had consistently voted for them.
"I have asked Michael to come on board with our campaign, but he's chosen to go his own way. Now let's have the debate on policies and the election and let the members decide," he said.
Asked whether his challenge might split the left and leave neither able to take on the chancellor, Mr Meacher said he did not think Mr McDonnell could get the necessary number of nominations.
"I firmly believe that I can, and to that extent, I am putting the left into the ring and I think and hope I am uniting the left rather than splitting it."