Is Meacher the winner in the battle of the lefties?

petercoe Wed May 09, 2007 at 08:33:09 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Did anyone see the end of the Six O'Clock News when the correspondent outside Downing Street (I think it was John Piennar) said that there was likely to be a leadership election: Gordon Brown vs Michael Meacher?

Yesterday was of course the day that he and John McDonnell met up to compare lists of supporters...






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Is Meacher the winner in the battle of the lefties? | 25 comments (25 topical)

Meeting (#1)

by Andrea on Wed May 09, 2007 at 09:01:25 PM GMT

"Yesterday was of course the day that he and John McDonnell met up to compare lists of supporters... "

are you sure? I thought they were going to meet after Blair's announcement.


Re: Meeting (#3)

by petercoe on Wed May 09, 2007 at 09:12:57 PM GMT

I'm sure when he was on Newsnight last Friday discussing the results I heard Paxman say they were meeting up "on Tuesday" and he confirmed it...but could have misheard.  Suppose I could trawl through the Newsnight archive on their website, but to be honest I've got better things to do!


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Re: Meeting (#4)

by Andrea on Wed May 09, 2007 at 09:36:59 PM GMT

Ah, thanks. Frankly I lost track on what those 2 are up to.

MM sounds quite a bit out of his depth too


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Re: Meeting (#5)

by Mikael on Wed May 09, 2007 at 09:47:04 PM GMT

I'm pretty sure they said thursday... The whole point was that they were going to reach an agreement once Blair had stepped down.


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Re: Is Meacher the winner... (#2)

by CharlesCooper on Wed May 09, 2007 at 09:12:01 PM GMT

I think BBC News's guess is as good as anyone's at the moment- bit odd that they chose to say Michael Meacher, but we'll find out the truth tomorrow- apparently.


Re: Is Meacher the winner? (#6)

by otware on Wed May 09, 2007 at 11:02:18 PM GMT

If Meacher gets on the ballot I will eat my hat. There is a tendency in the media (especially the BBC) to assume Meacher has loads of supporters. Somehow the information that he has 2 supporters hasn't reached them...yet.


Re: Is Meacher the winner (#7)

by jonesythered on Wed May 09, 2007 at 11:17:31 PM GMT

John McDonnell and Michael Meacher are meeting tomorrow to compare numbers.

All will then become clear by mid-afternoon.


Re: Is Meacher the winner (#8)

by otware on Wed May 09, 2007 at 11:23:46 PM GMT

Lol what do you think the chances are of Meacher pushing on anyway and trying to do it? Or maybe he'll be too embrassed and do a runner for Brazil :p


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Re: Is Meacher the winner (#9)

by jonesythered on Wed May 09, 2007 at 11:37:06 PM GMT

I just hope he doesn't do what he did in 1983...

He was running on a joint ticket with Heffer - i.e. standing as his deputy. At the last minute, Meacher publicly declared for Kinnock in order to secure a job in the Shadow Cabinet.

Just so you know what we're dealing with here


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Re: Is Meacher the winner (#10)

by otware on Thu May 10, 2007 at 12:00:21 AM GMT

I don't tjink even he could delude himself into thinking he'll be in Brown's cabinet.


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Re: Is Meacher the winner ...? (#11)

by Curlew on Thu May 10, 2007 at 01:43:10 PM GMT

I think the media are stuck in the rut of thinking that only a minister or ex-minister should run, they switch off after that. What they don't understand is that the labour grassroots want someone who is prepared to make a principled stand - even if it means initially spoiling their own career chances. I wouldn't call it a battle - united we will stand (under McDonnell:-)


Re: Is Meacher the winner in the battle of the... (#12)

by Glass House on Thu May 10, 2007 at 01:45:10 PM GMT

Did I hear somewhere that McDonnell & Meacher will be announcing their intention at 4pm today?


Re: Is Meacher the winner (#13)

by e10rifles on Thu May 10, 2007 at 01:56:13 PM GMT

JOINT LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN PRESS CONFERENCE ON BEHALF OF JOHN MCDONNELL MP AND MICHAEL MEACHER MP 4.00 pm THURSDAY 10TH MAY Macmillan Room Portcullis House TO ANNOUNCE WHICH CANDIDATE HAS MOST PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT AND WILL BE CONTINUING WITH THEIR CHALLENGE FOR THE LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP Thereafter the successful candidate will be available for interview from the Atrium, Portcullis House and elsewhere, as required -ends-


Delayed (#14)

by CitizenAndreas on Thu May 10, 2007 at 05:57:44 PM GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6642331.stm The bid has been delayed until Monday. The following statement was issued: "As agreed, the campaign teams for Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have met to assess the level of support for each candidate. "The outcome is that the issue is too close to call at the moment and a number of clarifications need to be made. "The good news for the Labour Party is that there is clearly sufficient support to ensure that a leadership candidate will come forward from the centre-left."


Re: Is Meacher the winner? (#15)

by JR on Thu May 10, 2007 at 07:05:28 PM GMT

Hmm, so it seems that one of the lefties will get enough nominations to run against Brown (so they say), but it is clear that McDonnell hasn't exactly trashed Meacher - people seem to think Meacher will win it.


Re: Is Meacher the winner? (#18)

by petercoe on Thu May 10, 2007 at 08:19:52 PM GMT

Well, actually JR, I reckon it suggests that they DON'T have enough signatories between them to stand (or rather they don't have enough transferable signatories, which amounts to the same thing).

Just consider why on earth it is that John McDonnell would postpone his announcement if he had the supporters - ditto, why Meacher would.

Today would have been the day to do it - trump Brown's official announcement tomorrow and share some of the blanket Labour Party coverage. That's exactly what was planned - and the only credible reason why it was derailed is because they ain't got the votes.


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Re: Is Meacher the winner? (#19)

by doctordunc on Thu May 10, 2007 at 08:27:21 PM GMT

That doesn't make sense either Peter. The anouncement today was never to say: 'and here are the 44 nominations' - some people are bound not to want to commit until monday-wednesday next week when the official nomination period starts. All today was about was who had the most. We know from everything that's been said that, if there were similar numbers for both camps, those numbers were in the 20s. Obviously neither candidate can promise that all their support would transfer to the other as MPs will nominate as they please. I don't really know what HAS happened today, but it was nothing to do with the total number of nominations. I suppose it might have something to do with people's declared 'second preferences' - I don't know!


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Re: Meacher (#16)

by doctordunc on Thu May 10, 2007 at 07:10:38 PM GMT

Which people, JR?


Re: Is Meacher the winner? (#17)

by JR on Thu May 10, 2007 at 07:33:38 PM GMT

BBC News, Sky News said before about a Brown - Meacher contest. They might be slips of the tongue, but they might know something we don't.


Re: Is Meacher the winner? (#23)

by jkitleft on Thu May 10, 2007 at 11:00:52 PM GMT

I think it is more to do with the fatc, that it sounds more interesting if the 'former Environment secretary is running' ( which they interpret incorrectly, as he was environment MINISTER), than a 'Backbencher is also standing against Brown'


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Re: Is Meacher the winner ....? (#20)

by Curlew on Thu May 10, 2007 at 09:42:43 PM GMT

I think it was most sensible to delay - they are not going to get any coverage in the media today. Also most MP's haven't spoken up yet on their preferences - they're waiting for today to start to think about it. I do hope they will show courage and not fall-in under the Scot


Re: Is Meacher the winner ....? (#21)

by Glass House on Thu May 10, 2007 at 09:50:48 PM GMT

"I think it was most sensible to delay - they are not going to get any coverage in the media today."

Isn't that an example of spin - something that they've been railing about?


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Re: Is Meacher the winner ....? (#24)

by Curlew on Fri May 11, 2007 at 09:34:33 AM GMT

No, media coverage is the easiest way to reach the electorate as they/we are a captive audience today. I don't think any of us suspected the media would do the Blair Obits today (they are going to bore the socks off us by June 27). But Peter you couldn't resist the temptation to spin what I had said ;-)


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Re: Is Meacher the winner ....? (#25)

by Glass House on Fri May 11, 2007 at 09:40:16 AM GMT

peter?


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Re: Is Meacher the winner ....? (#22)

by petercoe on Thu May 10, 2007 at 10:25:29 PM GMT

But that argument - as credible as it is - means that McDonnell lacked the grasp of the stark bleeding obvious that he wouldn't get any coverage in the media today when he pre-announced that he would be making a statement.

Even I am willing to credit Mr McDonnell with having such a basic grasp of news management. That said, all the Deputy Leadership contenders have been doing the rounds and received a decent share of publicity.


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Is Meacher the winner in the battle of the lefties? | 25 comments (25 topical)