JOHN FOR LEADER

9 www.rmt.org.uk :: june 2006 :: RMTnews John McDonnell MP is standing for the leadership of the Labour Party when Tony Blair steps down. An effective coronation of Chancellor Gordon Brown as the Labour leader would deny trade unionists and party members the right to a vote on who should be leader of the party. A leadership election would also ensure that there is a proper opportunity to openly debate the issues facing us and the future direction of our party. POLICIES John is the only candidate standing who supports the policies of the trade union movement. Many of these policies have also been democratically passed by successive Labour party and TUC Conferences including: • Compulsory Gender Pay Audits to enforce equal pay across the public sector • A Trade Union Freedom Bill restoring the rights taken away by the Tories, putting Britain back in line with International Labour organisation standards • An end to the policies of privatisation and cuts in the NHS and our other public services • A new Health and Safety regime with stricter powers, adequate enforcement resources and an effective Corporate Manslaughter legislation • An increase in the basic state pension and immediate restoration of the link with earnings • A Real Living Wage for all public service workers and an end to public sector pay freezes • Direct investment in council housing • Abolition of tuition fees and an end to Foundation and Trust schools • Withdrawal of British troops from Iraq • No £25bn replacement of Trident, instead investing the money into public services and fighting poverty both at home and abroad A vote for John McDonnell will be a vote for trade union policies. John has pledged to strengthen the party-union link and ensure that trade unions are at the heart of policy-making. Since launching his candidature, John has spoken to thousands of trade unionists and party members up and down the country and has been overwhelmed by the level of support he has received. There is great enthusiasm for a democratic contest and the debate of a policy agenda which reconnects the party with our supporters, and re-unites the movement at all levels. However, such a campaign costs money, and so far it has had to rely mainly on the generosity and solidarity of individual rank-and- file trade unionists, party members and supporters. So you could consider: • making a financial donation to the John4Leader campaign, cheques should be made out to: ‘John 4 Leader’ and sent to the above address or you can donate on-line via the web site at www.john4leader.org.uk ] • Join the Labour Party. New members can vote in the leadership election regardless of how long they have been a member. Get your friends and colleagues to join using the Join Labour for John leaflet - contact the office for supplies. • invite John to come to speak to your branch to discuss the campaign • assist in the distribution of campaign materials • assist in approaching MPs to seek nominations This campaign is about rebuilding Labour and its popularity. But that can only be done if Labour is restored as a party of peace not war, as a party of public service provision not privatisation, and as a ‘people’s party’ not a party of big business and corporate globalisation. Parliamentary column John4Leader