John Mcdonnell laid out the plans for a Post Brexit Labour government. His speech carried the audience towards a vision of a democratic workplace where workers would share and the reap the fruits of your labor. The shadow secretary quoted clause IV that was first introduced into the Labour party in 1918 but removed under the Blairite take over.
There are echoes in history how the right of the Party have always wanted to remove clause iv.
In the 1950’s Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell thought clause IV was outdated but his attempts to get it reformed were crushed by a left-wing rebellion. It was then more or less ignored for about 4 decades.
What was it in 1918?
Here’s a quote from the original Clause IV:
“To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.”
What did Blair change it to in 1995?
Here’s a quote from the new Clause IV:
“A dynamic economy, serving the public interest, in which the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition are joined with the forces of partnership and co-operation to produce the wealth the nation needs.”
To many this was seen has a capitulation to capitalism and a move from the Left.
McDonnell without having to reintroduce Clause IV will manage to bring it into the workplace when Labour regains power.
Clause IV in this sense should be embraced by corporations it will become a motivator in terms of productivity and create a true stakeholder society.
He talked about Brexit, that unlike previous Shadow chancellors who have used Brexit as a tool of fear, he would use it as a tool to rebuild Britain saying.
The greater the mess we inherit the more radical we have to be!
It was an excellent speech by John McDonnell setting an inspirational outlook to a 21st century Model with Labour rebuilding Britain a reality for the many not the few.
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