John McDonnell unveils Labour policies for 15-year revolution with nationalisation, NHS and workers at its heart
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Loading... - Giulia Falcone
- 24 Sep 2021
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After eight years of Tory austerity that has plunged millions of Brits into a cycle of despair, Labour is now poised to ride to the rescue.
And John McDonnell said Jeremy Corbyn hopes to topple Theresa May before Christmas to start reversing the damage of her war on the poor, disabled, public services, education and health.
The Shadow Chancellor also said Labour is plotting a 15-year revolution in power that will put workers’ rights, the NHS, social care and industry at the heart of a bid to make Britain a fairer place to live once again.
With the Tories in disarray over Brexit, the possibility of an autumn general election looms.
And in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Mr McDonnell said: “We’re ready… and we’ll win.
“I want the election as soon as possible. Eight years of Tory austerity has left people wanting real change. So we’ll provide them with a radical manifesto.
“We could be in place tomorrow. I think the third term will be our most exciting.
“I think if the last election had lasted another week or two, we would be in government.
“Everyone thought that was a flash in the pan, there was talk about ‘Peak Corbyn’. Actually, we’ve consolidated that.
"The polls now are between 38 and 44, permanently. We need another 4 or 5% to get into government.
“Once we get into government, that first Queen’s Speech will be popular.
"We will put money into people’s pockets, provide a real living wage, restore trade union rights, end privatisation and start investing in public services and in the infrastructure that will give us the jobs.
“I want the Tories held to account for what they’ve done.
"Apart from eight years of austerity, their handling of Brexit has had a direct impact on the economy and people’s living standards.
“I want them held to account. I want them out.”
Mr McDonnell, 67, will today deliver a keynote speech at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool – as the party maps out its vision of a Britain for all.
It will unveil a radical plan that includes renationalising water, rail, energy and mail within the first five years of government.
A National Care Service to tackle the social care crisis and end cuts will be launched.
Labour is also planning a National Education Service to slash classroom sixes and increase teacher input.
Billions of pounds will be pumped into the NHS to restore it to the service that was the envy of the world until the Tories starting dismantling it.
And workers could be £500 a year better off with the launch of “inclusive ownership” of big firms in a bid to narrow the wage gap between staff and bosses.
Mr McDonnell will tell delegates: “Workers, who create the wealth of a company, should share in its ownership and, yes, in the returns that it makes."
If Labour does last three years, Mr McDonnell will by then be 82.
But he insisted the next generation of MPs is ready for the challenge of keeping the party in power.
He added: “You’ve got the likes of Becky Long-Bailey, Richard Burgon, Angie Rayner, Kate Osamor.
"They’re committed, working class young people, with an eye for detail, really good advocates of our policy.”
Mr McDonnell demanded the PM quit over her Brexit handling.
He said: “Theresa May has proved herself incapable of negotiating her way out of a paper bag. I have no sympathy for her.
“She’s got us into this mess, she’s got a responsibility to the country to go.
Asked whether he believed the PM would secure an EU deal, he replied: “She’ll get some form of deal, probably a fudge. It won’t be one that even her own party will support.”
Labour has set six tests for any deal including a strong relationship with Europe, the same rights, protections and benefits as now and fair migration.
Mr McDonnell added: “The key is will it protect jobs and the economy? From what we’re seeing it won’t.
“We’ve got companies going down to three day working. And this is because of the uncertainty caused by the Tories.
“So what we’re saying to Theresa May is accept that you’re not going to get a deal that will protect jobs and the economy, move to one side and let us do the negotiations. If not, move over, let’s have a general election.”
Mr McDonnell denied reports of rifts between him and Mr Corbyn, insisting they are the “closest of friends”.
