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{{Short description|British Labour politician (born 1951)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}{{2024 UK Commons}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = John McDonnell
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
| image = Official portrait of Rt Hon John McDonnell MP crop 2.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2021
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| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 = [[Terry Dicks]]
| successor3 =
| majority3 = 912,261031 (2131.14%)
| office4 = [[Member of the Greater London Council]]<br />for [[Hayes, Hillingdon|Hayes]] and [[Harlington, London|Harlington]]
| term_start4 = 7 May 1981
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| birth_name = John Martin McDonnell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|9|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], [[Lancashire]], England
| death_date =
| death_place =
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}}
| children = 3
| party = [[LabourIndependent Party (UK)politician|LabourIndependent]]
| otherparty = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] (1981–2024; suspended and whip withdrawn)<br />[[Socialist Campaign Group]]
| education = [[Great Yarmouth Grammar School]]<br />[[St Joseph's College, Ipswich]]<br />Burnley Technical College<ref name=BBC2015>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34245371 |title=A profile of John McDonnell – new shadow chancellor |work=BBC News|publisher=BBC |date=14 September 2015 |access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[Brunel University]]<br />[[Birkbeck, University of London]]
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| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=John McDonnell addresses crowd at TWT.ogg|title=John McDonnell's voice|type=speech|description=McDonnell addresses the crowd at [[The World Transformed]]<br />Recorded 28 September 2017}}
}}
'''John Martin McDonnell''' (born 8 September 1951) is a British politician who served as [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]] from 2015 to 2020. AHe memberhas ofbeen the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], he has been [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Hayes and Harlington (UK Parliament constituency)|Hayes and Harlington]] since [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]], representing the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] until the [[Whip (politics)|whip]] was withdrawn and his suspension on 23 July 2024 as a result of voting to scrap the [[two child benefit cap]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Labour suspends seven rebels who voted to scrap two-child benefit cap {{!}} Labour {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/23/labour-mps-vote-to-scrap-two-child-benefit-cap-in-first-rebellion-for-starmer |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref> On the political left, McDonnell is a member of the [[Socialist Campaign Group]].
 
McDonnell served as chair of the [[Socialist Campaign Group]] in Parliament and [[Labour Representation Committee (2004)|Labour Representation Committee]]; he also chaired the Public Services Not Private Profit Group. He is also parliamentary convenor of the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group of eight left-wing trade unions representing over half a million workers. McDonnell attempted to standstood for the position of [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party leader]] following [[Tony Blair]]'s resignation in [[2007 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2007]], but failed to getreach enoughthe required number of nominations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6660565.stm |title=Brown will enter No 10 unopposed |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=16 May 2007}}</ref> He was a candidate for the party leadership again in [[2010 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2010]] following [[Gordon Brown]]'s resignation after Labour's [[2010 United Kingdom general election|electoral defeat]],<ref name="mirror1">{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/05/18/labour-mp-john-mcdonnell-to-stand-in-the-leadership-campaign-115875-22268136 |title=Labour MP John McDonnell to stand in the leadership campaign |work=Daily Mirror|date=16 May 2010|access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref> but withdrew in favour of [[Diane Abbott]], feeling that he would be unable to secure enough nominations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/john-mcdonnell-im-withdrawing-from-labour-leadership-race |title=I'm withdrawing from Labour leadership race |last=McDonnell |first=John |publisher=[[Labour Representation Committee (2004)|Labour Representation Committee]] |date=9 June 2010 |access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
 
Alongside [[Jeremy Corbyn]], McDonnell has been seen as a keymajor figure on the left-wing of the party.<ref name="Hall">{{cite book |last=Hall |first=Duncan |title=A2 Government and Politics: Ideologies and Ideologies in Action |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPhwAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-4477-3399-7 |pages=45–46|year=2011 }}{{self-published source|date=April 2020}}</ref> After being elected Labour leader in [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2015]], Corbyn appointed McDonnell to his [[Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn|Shadow Cabinet]] as [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]]. As Shadow Chancellor, McDonnell pledged to increase spending on infrastructure and research, describing his vision for the economy as "socialism with an [[iPad]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Labour wants 'socialism with an iPad' says McDonnell|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34877475|year=2015|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref>
 
==Early life==
McDonnell was born in [[Liverpool]] to a family with an [[Irish Catholic]] background.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joo4w_BwEJs |title=Video |website=www.youtube.com |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=13 November 2020}}</ref> His father, Bob, was a docker who also served as a sergeant in the [[Sherwood Foresters]] during [[World War II]], whilst his mother Elsie worked as a cleaner.<ref name="MaguirePro" /> He moved with his family to his mother's hometown, [[Great Yarmouth]] in [[Norfolk]], when he was very young as his father was unable to find work at the docks; his father became a bus driver and was a branch secretary of the [[Transport and General Workers' Union]]<ref name=BBC2015/><ref name="Bennett">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/26/labourleadership.labour |title=Honest John |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 September 2006 |access-date=14 September 2015 |last=Bennett |first=Ronan}}</ref> and his mother worked for [[British Home Stores]].<ref name="MaguirePro" /> McDonnell attended [[Great Yarmouth Charter Academy|Great Yarmouth Grammar School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/shadow-chancellor-shares-memories-of-growing-up-in-great-yarmouth-1-4820510|title=Shadow chancellor shares memories of growing up in Great Yarmouth|last=Dickson|first=Annabelle|website=Great Yarmouth Mercury|date=18 December 2016|access-date=9 September 2019|archive-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925044413/http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/shadow-chancellor-shares-memories-of-growing-up-in-great-yarmouth-1-4820510|url-status=dead}}</ref> McDonnell received a Local Authority grant to attend [[St Joseph's College, Ipswich]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Senior Prospectus|url=https://www.stjos.co.uk/senior/prospectus/senior-prospectus-pdf/|website=St Joseph's College|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626111758/https://www.stjos.co.uk/senior/prospectus/senior-prospectus-pdf/|url-status=dead}}</ref> a [[Roman Catholic]] boarding fee-paying [[independent school]] for boys (now co-educational). "<ref name="MaguirePro">{{cite news |last=Maguire |first=Kevin |title=John McDonnell, the self-made socialist |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/john-mcdonnell-socialist-kevin-maguire-profile |access-date=11 March 2019 |work=Prospect Magazine |date=18 September 2018}}</ref> McDonnell is now irreligious, but refers to himself as a "[[cultural Catholic]]" and is a regular churchgoer.<ref name="MaguirePro" />
 
McDonnell failed his [[GCE Advanced Level (United Kingdom)|A-level]]s at grammar school, partly due to holding down part-time jobs in bars and a [[bingo hall]].<ref name="MaguirePro" /> Upon leaving education, McDonnell held a series of unskilled jobs. After marrying his first wife, he returned to A-level studies at night school at [[Burnley]] [[Technical College]], and at the age of 23, he moved to [[Hayes, Hillingdon|Hayes]] in Greater London, attended [[Brunel University]], and earned a bachelor's degree in government and politics.<ref name="Brunel">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/politics-and-history-bsc |title=Politics and History BSc |publisher=[[Brunel University London]] |date=14 September 2015 |access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="BBC News Profile 2001">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/3/30804.stm|title=Candidate: John McDonnell |work=BBC News}}</ref> During this period, he helped his wife run a small children's home in Hayes, and was active on behalf of his local community and for [[National Union of Public Employees]]. After completing his master's degree in politics and sociology at [[Birkbeck, University of London]],<ref name="BBC News Profile 2001"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbk.ac.uk/polsoc/ |title=Department of Politics |publisher=Bbk.ac.uk |access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref> he became a researcher and official with the [[National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain)|National Union of Mineworkers]] from 1977 to 1978, and later the [[Trades Union Congress]] from 1978 until 1982. From 1985 to 1987, McDonnell was head of the policy unit at [[Camden Borough Council]], then chief executive of the Association of London Authorities from 1987 to 1995, and the [[Association of London Government]] from 1995 until 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=John McDonnell|url=http://www.bbk.ac.uk/about-us/fellows/downloads/john-mcdonnell.pdf |website=bbk.ac.uk |publisher=Birkbeck, University of London |access-date=10 March 2018}}</ref>
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McDonnell sparked controversy when he joked that Conservative politician [[Esther McVey]] should be [[lynched]] and described her as a "stain on humanity."<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/john-mcdonnell-lynching-personal-abuse-jeremy-corbyn-esther-mcvey-labour-conference-a7328876.html John McDonnell defends comments about Tory minister being 'lynched'], ''The Independent'', 25 September 2016</ref> He said that he was quoting a constituent speaking at a public meeting convened to oppose McVey's policies on benefits and did not endorse the sentiment.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The [[Leader of the House of Commons]], [[Andrea Leadsom]], called the remark "truly evil."<ref>[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mcdonnells-lynching-rant-condemned-as-truly-evil-jpmmkzq5q McDonnell’s lynching rant condemned as 'truly evil'] ''The Sunday Times'', 15 January 2018</ref>
 
In 2017, McDonnell said: "I will be the first socialist Labour Chancellor".<ref>{{cite web|title=John McDonnell: 'I will be the first socialist Labour Chancellor'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/john-mcdonnell-first-socialist-labour-chancellor-corbyn-quit-inevitable-a7722271.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/john-mcdonnell-first-socialist-labour-chancellor-corbyn-quit-inevitable-a7722271.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|date=7 May 2017}}</ref> McDonnell in his ''Who’s Who'' entry posted one of his hobbies as "fermenting [sic] the overthrow of capitalism".<ref name=capitalism1 /> In 2018, McDonnell said that he "wants to "overthrow capitalism" and replace it with a "socialist society"". He also said Venezuela's economic problems were because it was no longer a socialist country.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/05/20/labour-shadow-chancellor-john-mcdonnell-says-job-overthrow-capitalism/ Labour shadow Chancellor John McDonnell says his job is to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a 'socialist society'] ''The Daily Telegraph'', 20 May 2018</ref>{{undue inline|date=July 2024}}
 
In September 2018, McDonnell said he would only back a second referendum on the European Union if the option to remain is not present.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/24/mcdonnell-new-brexit-referendum-should-not-include-remain-option|title=McDonnell: new Brexit referendum should not include remain option|first1=Peter|last1=Walker|first2=Heather|last2=Stewart|first3=Jessica|last3=Elgot|date=24 September 2018|work=The Guardian}}</ref> He also agreed with shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner, when he suggested a second referendum could lead to social unrest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/24/mcdonnell-backs-claims-second-brexit-referendum-risks-social-unrest|title=McDonnell backs claim second referendum on Brexit risks unrest|first=Andrew|last=Sparrow|date=24 August 2018|work=The Guardian}}</ref>
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In February 2019, McDonnell sparked controversy when he referred to the former Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] as a "villain." Writing on Twitter, [[Boris Johnson]] said: "JM should be utterly ashamed of his remarks and withdraw them forthwith."<ref>{{cite news |title=Winston Churchill: Theresa May says she has portrait of wartime PM in her study amid row over John McDonnell comments |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/winston-churchill-theresa-may-john-mcdonnell-villain-labour-tonypandy-miners-a8779111.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/winston-churchill-theresa-may-john-mcdonnell-villain-labour-tonypandy-miners-a8779111.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=15 February 2019}}</ref>
 
During a comprehensive interview conducted by former Labour Party member [[Alastair Campbell]] for British ''[[GQ]]'' in October 2019, McDonnell stated his disapproval of the former's expulsion from the party and indicated he would support his return. He also expressed his own view that the next party leader should be female, and that the party should employ [[positive discrimination]] to aid that prospect if Jeremy Corbyn were to lose the next general election. When asked to name any current [[Tory]] politician whom he respected, he declined, subsequently stating that he "can't forgive any of them". Campbell followed up by asking the same question about any historic Tories, to which McDonnell replied "No".<ref>{{cite web|title=John McDonnell: Labour should have a female leader if Jeremy Corbyn loses next election {{!}} British GQ| website=[[YouTube]] | date=11 October 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joo4w_BwEJs|access-date=12 October 2019}}</ref>
 
Upon the election of [[Keir Starmer]] as [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]], McDonnell stood down as Shadow Chancellor and was succeeded by [[Anneliese Dodds]].<ref>{{cite tweet |user=johnmcdonnellMP |author=John McDonnell MP |number=1246373038922379264 |date = 4 April 2020 |title=As I step down as Shadow Chancellor I want to thank all those party members and supporters who have sustained us through the last years with their solidarity. It's been a privilege and honour to serve our movement. Solidarity.}}</ref>
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On 24 February 2022, following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], McDonnell was one of 11 Labour MPs threatened with losing the party whip after they signed a statement by the [[Stop the War Coalition]] which questioned the legitimacy of [[NATO]] and accused the military alliance of "eastward expansion". All 11 MPs subsequently removed their signatures.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wearmouth |first1=Rachel |title=11 Labour MPs threatened with suspension for signing Stop The War letter attacking NATO |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/11-labour-mps-face-suspension-26323193 |access-date=24 February 2022 |work=Mirror |date=24 February 2022}}</ref> McDonnell subsequently joined calls led by the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign for increased arms supplies to Ukraine and criticized those on the left who opposed it.<ref>{{cite web |last=McDonnell |first=John |title=The Ukrainian Question for Socialists |url=https://labourhub.org.uk/2023/02/21/the-ukrainian-question-for-socialists/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=LabourHub |date=21 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stand with Ukraine – UK solidarity statement and call for protests for the anniversary of Russia's invasion |url=https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2023/02/16/stand-with-ukraine-uk-solidarity-statement-and-call-for-protests-for-the-anniversary-of-russias-invasion/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Ukraine Solidarity Campaign |date=16 February 2023 }}</ref>
 
In 2023, he criticised [[Keir Starmer]] for allowing members from the party's right wing to become "drunk with power". This came after members of the Labour left had been barred from running as Labour candidates at the next general election and some left wing sitting MPs such as [[Ian Byrne]] were forced to face re-selection by their local constituency parties. It also followed the October 2021 suspension of Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour whip.<ref>{{cite web |title=Keir Starmer's allies purging Labour left, says John McDonnell|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66105250|access-date=29 December 2023 |website=BBC News|date=4 July 2023 }}</ref>
 
In July 2024, McDonnell campaigned on and voted for the scrapping of the [[two child benefit cap]] which he opposed in 2015 when it was introduced under the Conservatives, defying the Labour whip.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Neame |first1=Katie |title=MPs to vote on amendment to King's Speech calling for two-child cap be axed |url=https://labourlist.org/2024/07/labour-kings-speech-two-child-cap-snp-amendment-vote-hoyle/?amp |website=LabourList |date=23 July 2024}}</ref> He was one of seven Labour MP's who voted in favour of a SNP motion to scrap the rule and as a result had the whip suspended for six months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c978m6z3egno|title=Labour suspends seven rebel MPs over two-child benefit cap|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=23 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/23/labour-mps-vote-to-scrap-two-child-benefit-cap-in-first-rebellion-for-starmer|title=Labour suspends seven rebels who voted to scrap two-child benefit cap|work=The Guardian|accessdate=23 July 2024 |last1=Elgot |first1=Jessica }}</ref>
 
==Political views==
McDonnell belongs to the left-wing of the British Labour Party and is a member of the [[Socialist Campaign Group]], a left-wing [[parliamentary caucus]].<ref name="Hall"/>
McDonnell is considered as being on the left of the Labour Party.<ref name="Hall"/> He also opposed Britain going to war in Iraq. <ref>{{cite news |title=How Labour's contenders see the war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/feb/21/iraq.labour|date=21 February 2007|access-date=13 September 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
 
McDonnell isopposed consideredthe as[[2003 being on the leftinvasion of theIraq]] Labourand Party.<refsubsequent name="Hall"/> He also opposed Britain going to[[Iraq war in Iraq]]. <ref>{{cite news |title=How Labour's contenders see the war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/feb/21/iraq.labour|date=21 February 2007|access-date=13 September 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
 
When asked if he was a [[Marxist]] in an [[LBC]] interview with [[Iain Dale]], McDonnell replied: {{blockquote|“I describe myself as a [[socialism|socialist]]. I think I'm in the tradition of the [[Clement Attlee|Attlee]] government”.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iain Dale pushes John McDonnell on whether he is a Marxist |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/iain-dale/iain-dale-pushes-john-mcdonnell-marxist/ |website=LBC |language=en}}</ref> }}
 
==Personal life==
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]]|years=2015–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anneliese Dodds]]}}
{{s-end}}{{Independent MPs in the United Kingdom}}{{Shadow Chancellors of the Exchequer}}{{Labour Party leadership election, 2007}}
{{s-end}}
 
{{UK Shadow Cabinet}}
{{Shadow Great Officers of State}}
{{Shadow Chancellors of the Exchequer}}
{{Labour Party leadership election, 2007}}
{{2010 Labour Party leadership election}}
{{London Labour Party MPs}}
{{Socialist Campaign Group}}
{{Portalbar|United Kingdom|Socialism}}
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[[Category:UK MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Universal basic income in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:ShadowLabour ChancellorsFriends of Palestine and the ExchequerMiddle East]]
[[Category:Socialist Campaign Group]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2024–present]]
[[Category:Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom]]