Jan 5th 2007

John McDonnell MP addressing Birmingham TUC open meeting

John McDonnell MP, standing for the Labour Party leadership this year, spoke at a Birmingham TUC open meeting on Thursday 4th January 2007. Within his contribution he covered a range of issues from domestic disenchantment and Britain’s role internationally.

Andy Goodall, VSC coordinator, asked a question on Britain’s role internationally and Britain’s relationship with Venezuela and Latin America. John McDonnell who is also joint Chair of the Hands off Venezuela Campaign, stated we should have a strong and friendly relationship with Venezuela and recalled the disgraceful episode in 2002, when Foreign Office spokes-minister Dennis McShane described Chavez as "a ranting populist demagogue".

While Chavez was being held hostage at gunpoint on a military island in the Caribbean, McShane stated in an article: "He was dressed in a red paratrooper's beret and rugby shirt and waved his arms up and down like Mussolini - an odd, disturbing spectacle."

John McDonnell added that during the coup Dennis Mcshane was sent out to support the coup government and 24 hours later he was sent out to welcome the return of President Chavez. We should take heart from the fact that Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez is still in power and Dennis McShane is not.

VSC welcome these positive expressions from John McDonnell and call upon all Labour Party leadership and deputy leadership contenders to welcome the election of President Chavez and policies being developed in Venezuela.