Labour leadership: John McDonnell hopes to stand
By politics.co.uk staff
John McDonnell has said he wants to stand in the Labour leadership contest, but doubts he can secure enough support in time for the deadline.
The Hayes and Hartington MP criticised the party leadership for leaving such a brief time window for getting the 33 signatures needed from fellow MPs.
“We thought that New Labour had learnt its lesson from the coronation of Gordon Brown and wanted a genuinely democratic process this time round,” he told the BBC.
“By curtailing the nomination process so drastically in this way the whole process is being discredited from the start. Effectively excluding rank and file members of the party in this way will just alienate all those who are looking for a fresh start.
“I will seek to gain sufficient nominations to stand in the hope that Labour MPs will support an open and democratic election.”
If he succeeds in securing the signatures, Mr McDonnell would join the contest with former foreign secretary David Miliband and his younger brother, former energy secretary Ed Miliband.
Two other former ministers, Ed Balls and Andy Burnham, are also believed to be considering standing.
The party’s national executive committee decided today that no new leader would be announced until September 25th, one day before the party’s autumn conference. Until then the deputy leader Harriet Harman will lead the party.
Mr McDonnell previously tried to trigger a leadership contest when Gordon Brown took over the party but he could not galvanise enough support.
Candidates need 33 signatures from MPs by May 27th to be able to stand in the current leadership election.
