,
8 tweets,
4 min read
Read on Twitter
"The Shadow chancellor was sacked by Ken Livingstone, sacked for being too Left wing... sacked in fact for fabricating a budget. He was, he forged a budget, sacked for forging a budget"
Not many people can make Ken Livingstone look like a moderate, but John McDonnell did. 1/8
Not many people can make Ken Livingstone look like a moderate, but John McDonnell did. 1/8
In 1985 McDonnell was finance chair of the Greater London Council.
The Govt had imposed a rates (80s council tax) cap on Labour councils which were trying to impose tax rises of up to 50%.
When Ken relented, McDonnell said he was scabbing on the scale of the Notts miners. 2/8
The Govt had imposed a rates (80s council tax) cap on Labour councils which were trying to impose tax rises of up to 50%.
When Ken relented, McDonnell said he was scabbing on the scale of the Notts miners. 2/8
An eye witness account from the front line (among the cries of hypocrite, scab, sell-out, traitor).
McDonnell: "Ken Livingstone is betraying the Labour movement"
Livingstone: "John McDonnell will never be forgiven by the people of London until the day he dies" 3/8
McDonnell: "Ken Livingstone is betraying the Labour movement"
Livingstone: "John McDonnell will never be forgiven by the people of London until the day he dies" 3/8
Ken's reaction was to strip McDonnell, his deputy, of key responsibilities at County Hall. 4/8
What had McDonnell done?
'Mr Livingstone accused Mr McDonnell of deliberately using his position as finance chairman to mislead his Labour colleagues about the state of the councils finances.'
5/8
'Mr Livingstone accused Mr McDonnell of deliberately using his position as finance chairman to mislead his Labour colleagues about the state of the councils finances.'
5/8
How had McDonnell done this?
'Using all the "creative accountancy" techniques at their disposal, including reducing balances & writing of London Transport debt.' 6/8
'Using all the "creative accountancy" techniques at their disposal, including reducing balances & writing of London Transport debt.' 6/8
Some final words from Ken
'he had been deceived over budget calculations by Mr John O'Donnell [sic], the council's deputy leader'
Ken (on McDonnell) 'he couldn't labour on with people "who have betrayed me and whom I hate."' 7/8
'he had been deceived over budget calculations by Mr John O'Donnell [sic], the council's deputy leader'
Ken (on McDonnell) 'he couldn't labour on with people "who have betrayed me and whom I hate."' 7/8
Finally, Ken & John in happier days together. 8/8
