GLC John McDonnell

Hayes & Harlington MP's

John McDonnell - Re Elected in Hayes

John McDonnell MP

100 Years of Hayes Labour Party 1910-2010

Labour re-elected at Hayes 2010

Labour Victory in Hayes Council Seats

John McDonnell	Labour	23,377	54.8	-1.6
Scott Seaman-Digby	Conservative	12,553	29.4	+1.7
Satnam Kaur Khalsa	Liberal Democrat	3,726	8.7	-1.1
Chris Forster	British National Party	1,520	3.6	+1.3
Andrew Cripps	National Front	566	1.3	+1.3
Cliff Dixon	English Democrats	464	1.1	+1.1
Jessica Lee	Green	348	0.8	-0.6
Aneel Shahzad	Christian Party	83	0.2	+0.2
Majority		10,824	25.4
Turnout		42,637	60.7	+5.4

George "Gideon " Osbourne Conservative Shadow Chancelor stated

“There are lots of seats in London which at the beginning of the campaign I wouldn't have thought it possible to win but now I think we can,” said Mr Osborne. “Hayes & Harlington was not on our radar at all at the beginning of the campaign.” The shadow chancellor, also co-ordinator of the campaign, said: “We are fighting for a Conservative majority. I think that's within our grasp.”

Evening Standard 4th May 2010



RESULT 2005

Labour: 19009 (58.7%)
Conservative: 8162 (25.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 3174 (9.8%)
BNP: 830 (2.6%)
Green: 442 (1.4%)
UKIP: 552 (1.7%)
Other: 220 (0.7%)

Majority: 10847 (33.5%)


RESULT 2001

Labour: 21279 (65.7%)
Conservative: 7813 (24.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 1958 (6%)
BNP: 705 (2.2%)
Other: 648 (2%)
Majority: 13466 (41.6%)

RESULT 1997

Labour: 25458 (62%)
Conservative: 11167 (27.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 3049 (7.4%)
Referendum: 778 (1.9%)
Other: 639 (1.6%)
Majority: 14291 (34.8%)

Heathrow Noise - 1952

As early as 1952 Local Authorities around Heathrow Airport had recognised that the noise levels from aircraft at Heathrow Airport had become unacceptable.

The Local authorities (Airport) Committee was established in 1952 consisting of the Boroughs of Heston & Isleworth, Slough, and Urban District Council's of Egham, Feltham, Hayes & Harlington, Staines and Sudbury, Yiewsley & West Drayton

The original committee was formed to examine problems arising from the construction of the Airport or its operation which may affect local authorities.

It was stated by Feburary in 1959, The committee had not only been in regular correspondence with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation but also meet on two occasions with the airport Commandant and stressed its desire that every possible step shall be taken to reduce the noise made by aircraft in order that as little disturbance as possible shall be made to the residents in the neighbourhood f the airport stressed the desire.

It was stated that, since inception the committee had received numerous complaints about the noise of jet planes, Boeing 707s, low flying planes, fumes and black smoke on take off

The committee had also asked the Minister to impose a reasonable maximum noise level,

It was noted that at New York had restrictions on noise already in place and it was agreed to request the Minister impose similar restrictions at London Airport.

The Committee realise that despite its efforts the noise from aircraft using the airport is still a considerable annoyance to a large number of residents in the vicinity.

The committee also feels that in view of the proposals for greater use of the airport in the future, its efforts to see that every possible step is taken to ensure that the noise is reduced to a minimum must be continued

Uxbridge Gazette 2 February 1959

Photo

John McDonnell Hayes MP hold replica mace to recall John McDonnell's wielding the mace (15th January 2009) out of frustration at the lack of democracy in the Government's decision to bypass Parliament over the Heathrow 3rd runway plan.

GLC Fares Fair

FARES FAIR
The newly elected Labour controlled Greater London Council (GLC) of 1981 under leader Ken Livingstone, and his transport chair Dave Wetzel's introduced a new travel scheme called "Fares Fair", starting on the 4th of October 1981,

This scheme divided the GLC area into four zones. The "Fare Deal" flat fare area became the Outer Zone, the Inner Zone was a ring (approximately 3 miles wide) between the Outer and Central areas, and the Central area was divided into the West End Zone and the City Zone. "Fairs Fare" introduced very low fares, as all child fares were reduced from 10p to 5p, a 10p short hop fare returned and a journey all in was zone was down to 20p.

Unfortunately, the increase in the rates to fund "Fares Fair" was disliked by Conservative especially Bromley Council (leader Dennis Barkway), which resulted in the GLC being taken to court.

In the meantime, Conservative Minister Michael Hesletine at the Department of the Environment immediately clawed back £119million of the GLC's transport grant and Norman Fowler at the Department of Transport creamed £20million off the GLC's train subsidy

The GLC won but the court of appeal overturned the decision on the 10th of November. On the 17th of November 1981 the Law Lords upheld the decision of the court of appeal that the fares policy was illegal.

It put a stop to Fares Fair, the success of which, Livingstone maintains, was the primary reason for Margaret Thatcher's subsequent abolition of the GLC.

In March 1982 as a result of the cour ruling fares were increased by 96% and London's experiment with affordable public transport destroyed
John McDonnell (then a GLC councillor for Hayes) and other local Hayes people did attempt to emulate the Italian Communists, who faced with bus fare rises refused to pay. known as the "The Can't pay won't pay campaign" While the campaign secured good press coverage few opted to go through the tiresome process of taking bus journeys and refusing to pay the increased fare or chaining yourself to the bus and then having to give name and address to a usually unsympathetic Metropolitan Police officer. However, the Fares Fair scheme did win popular support and on Ken Livingstone election as Mayor of London, he re introduced similar schemes including the popular free travel for Children (once again under threat from the Capitals Conservatives)

Hayes By-Pass - Labour Party Demand 1984

Hayes Bypass was fought for by the local Hayes Labour Party for many years, but credit must go to campaigners such as Ossie Garvin, Peter Fagan and John McDonnell in forcing it through to conclusion.

The protest above dates from 1984

The Hayes Gazette records that

Peak-hour traffic was held up in Hayes Town Centre on Thursday evening by Hayes Bypass demonstrators.

Protesters, led by Greater London Council deputy leader Mr John McDonnell, marched across and, at one stage, sat in the middle of a zebra crossing near Pump Lane as a demonstration against what they claim is the minister's delay in giving her decision on the Bypass inquiry report.

The protest lasted about 20 minutes. Police arrived soon after it ended but there was no trouble.

Scandalous

Mr Ginger Evans, a member of the local Hayes Labour Party's management committee, was among the protesters, who included Hillingdon Council Labour Party leader Cllr Peter Fagan.

He said: "Most of the people we talked to in their cars seemed to be sympathetic because they agreed that there should be a Hayes Bypass."

Mr John McDonnell, who is also the GLC member for Hayes and Harlington, said: "The demonstration was to draw people's attention to the fact that all we need is the go-ahead from the minister. The money is there and all the contacts are ready to go."

He added that it was scandalous that ministers had sat on the inquiry inspector's report for more than seven months and that every day that passed without a decision meant that local residents had to put up with the "din, dirt and danger" from heavy through traffic that should be on the bypass.

 
"There have been no delays preventing the go ahead from the GLC side.

Mr McDonnell added: "We have done everything we can to speed up this project and get the work started and now we want to hear the minister say 'Yes' to

the scheme so we can get on with the task of providing this valuable new road link."

A Transport Department spokesman said that the department and the Environment Department still had the inspector's report and that it was hoped that an announcement would be made as soon as possible.

NOTE

Photo

Left to right Eric "Ginger" Evans, unknown?, Chris Rogers, George Philpot, John McDonnell (sitting) Steve Clare and behind (unseen) the last poster on right one Michael Walker

Circa 1984

John McDonnell MP

John McDonnell

The son of a docker and shopworker, John was born in Liverpool in 1951 before his family moved south because of work. He received his first degree from Brunel University and a Masters from Birkbeck College, London University.

He first worked as a production worker on the shop floor, before being employed as a trade union official for the National Union of Mineworkers and subsequently the TUC.

In 1981, he was elected as the GLC councillor for Hayes and Harlington and became Chair of Finance responsible for GLC's £3 billion budget. He was also deputy leader to Ken Livingstone.

Following the abolition of the GLC, John became the Chief Executive of the Association of London Authorities, eventually the Association of London Government, representing all the London Boroughs in relations with central government and Europe.

In 1992, he fought his home town seat of Hayes and Harlington but lost by 54 votes. He immediately launched a campaign to win the constituency and in 1997 won the seat with a 13,000 majority with one of largest swings to Labour in the country. Since then, Labour has held the seat with over 60% of the vote.

Locally John describes himself as a community MP, living and working in his constituency. He has been acknowledged by political friend and foe alike as an immensely hard working local MP on behalf of local constituents and for championing local community issues such as the threat of expansion at Heathrow airport and its impact on local communities.

In Parliament John is the Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs. Within the Labour Party he is the Chair of the Labour Representation Committee, a rank-and-file organisation for Labour Party supporters and trade unionists.

He is also a leading member of a number of All Party groups within Parliament including groups representing individual trade unions, such as PCS, RMT, FBU, Justice Unions and the NUJ as well as topic groups on a wide range of issues such as the Irish community, the Punjabi community, endometriosis, and Kenya.

He is Chair of 'Public Services Not Private Profit', a campaign which brings together 16 trade unions and several campaigning organisations to defend public services against privatisation. He is a prominent member of the Stop The War Coalition, and has been a consistent campaigner in Parliament against the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

John is married with a ten year old son and with two adult daughters from a previous marriage, and has two grand children.

In his time he enjoys theatre, cinema, reading, football and cricket, but more actively he enjoys sailing on the Norfolk Broads, cycling, and playing endless games of tennis and football with his inexhaustible son.

Hayes & Harlington Labour Candiates from1918 -

HAYES LABOUR PARTY

PARLIMENTARY CANDIDATES

1918 Harry Gosling

1920** PPC Captain Frank Goldstone did not stand at 1922

1922 W.J. Brown

1923 Robert Small

1924 Robert Small

1929 Reginald. F. 0. Bridgeman

1931 L.M.Worsnop

1935L.M.Worsnop

1945 Walter H Ayles (Elected)

1950 Walter H Ayles (Elected)

1951 Walter H Ayles (Elected)

1953 Arthur M Skeffington (By Election) (Elected)

1955 A.M.Skeffington (Elected)

1959 A.M Skeffington (Elected)

1964 A.MSkeffington (Elected)

1966 A.M Skeffington (Elected)

1970 A.M.Skeffington (Elected)

1971 Neville Sandleson (By Election) (Elected)

1974 Neville Sandleson (Elected)

1979 Nevile Sandleson (Elected) (later defected to SDP)

1983 Peter Fagan

1987 Peter Fagan

1993 John McDonnell

1997 John McDonnell (Elected)

2001 John McDonnell (Elected)

2005 John McDonnell (Elected)

2010 John McDonnell (Elected)
2015 John McDonnell (Elected)