45 John McDonnell Quotes for You to Enjoy

John McDonnell

British Politician

Born: Sep 8, 1951

Government Party People Political Society You

The decision over Heathrow expansion exemplifies the style of policy-making that starts with capitulation to a powerful self-interested lobby, blatantly fixes a public consultation and then drives through a policy that destroys any vestiges of green credentials the government had left. John McDonnell

It may sound corny in a cynical age but literally generations of our people have given much of their lives to establishing and cherishing the Labour party because they believed what the party told them when they joined. John McDonnell

Governments usually end not with a bang but with a whimper, as the Conservatives learned in the 1990s. Support and authority erodes over time until there is a final collapse of support and pivotal electoral shift. John McDonnell

Time Conservatives Final Collapse 1990s Support Over Until Learned Shift Governments End Authority Bang Pivotal Electoral

If corporations and rich people who made fortunes out of us during the boom are not paying their fair share then reform the tax system and close down the tax havens. John McDonnell

There's something in people's character, particularly the British character, about unfairness. They don't like it. John McDonnell

Character People About Something Like Particularly Unfairness British

Since John Smith's death and the Blair/Brown takeover in 1994, party members have watched the way in which an elite leadership group has formed in the Labour party, cutting itself off from the party's traditions, values and norms of behaviour. John McDonnell

Death Leadership Values Party Group Way Members John Takeover Since Smith Traditions Off Itself Norms Labour Labour Party Behaviour Which Formed Cutting Watched Elite

The illegal 2003 invasion had little to do with liberating Iraqis from Saddam Hussein's dictatorship. Instead, the real freedoms and benefits were destined to go to corporations like Halliburton and others that stood to gain from the privatisation of the formerly state-owned Iraqi economy. John McDonnell

Benefits Dictatorship Others Corporations Liberating Destined Hussein Invasion Had Instead Saddam Freedoms Like Economy Real Go Were Iraqi Iraqis Stood Gain Little Illegal

New Labour has systematically alienated section after section of our natural supporters - teachers, health workers, students, pensioners, public service workers, trade unionists and people committed to the environment, civil liberties and peace. John McDonnell

Service Health Peace Natural People Our Alienated Section Liberties Systematically Civil Civil Liberties Students Environment Supporters New Trade Labour Committed After Public Workers Teachers Public Service

Millions of people feel ignored by the political establishment. John McDonnell

People Political Feel Establishment Ignored Millions Millions Of People

Leaders play an important role, but it is the Labour party's supporters and potential supporters who should take the lead in discussing and determining the sense of purpose and direction of the party if we are to return to being a social movement aiming to transform our society. John McDonnell

Important Party Sense Society Aiming Our Determining Direction Potential Purpose Take Lead Leaders Supporters Return Important Role Discussing Role Labour Movement Being Transform Social Should Who Play

It was inevitable and understandable that the election of Jeremy Corbyn would be a massive culture shock for some sections of the party, especially some members of the parliamentary Labour party. John McDonnell

Culture Election Party Inevitable Sections Members Would Would-Be Some Parliamentary Massive Understandable Shock Labour Labour Party Jeremy

When you talk to people about their practical life, for example when they're at work, like the rail industry, the RMT members know better than anyone else how to run their industry. John McDonnell

I'm a plain speaker. John McDonnell

Plain Speaker

The worry in Labour circles is that, when pressed, Gordon Brown instinctively moved to cut the benefits of the poor rather than upset businesses and the wealthy. John McDonnell

Benefits Worry Circles Pressed Wealthy Brown Rather Instinctively Gordon Than Labour Moved Upset Poor Cut Businesses

I think that I was the first MP to call for the nationalisation of Northern Rock, although that is hardly surprising because I have been calling for the nationalisation of the financial sector for 30 years or more. John McDonnell

Financial First Think I Think Sector More Call Calling Although Because Rock Been Surprising Years Northern Hardly

Britain has moved on. It is a radically different country from that which shaped New Labour. John McDonnell

Country Shaped New Labour Moved Moved On Different Which Radically Britain

As the world changes, the way we work changes with it. John McDonnell

Work World Changes Way World Changes

Very clearly, government investment can and should be used to support economic growth. John McDonnell

Government Economic Economic Growth Investment Support Clearly Very Should Used Growth

In terms of mainstream media it's very difficult to break through if you're on the left. John McDonnell

You Difficult Through Mainstream Mainstream Media Terms Left Very Break Media