Researching John Mcdonnell

McDonnell served as chair of the Socialist Campaign Group in Parliament and 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 stand for the position of Labour Party leader following Tony Blair's resignation in 2007, but failed to get enough nominations. He was a candidate for the party leadership again in 2010 following Gordon Brown's resignation after Labour's electoral defeat, but withdrew in favour of Diane Abbott, feeling that he would be unable to secure enough nominations.

Alongside Jeremy Corbyn, McDonnell has been seen as a key figure on the left-wing of the party. Following Corbyn's election as Labour leader in 2015, he appointed McDonnell to his 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".

Born in Mallow, County Cork, McDonnell began working in the local Érin Foods factory. He joined the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU), and in 1974 was elected as secretary of his local branch. He focused on supporting union members in the food processing, local authority and health industries, and gradually came to national prominence. In his spare time, he completed a degree in economic and history with University College Cork.

The ITGWU became part of SIPTU in 1990, and McDonnell was appointed as its south west regional officer, the largest region in the union.

McDonnell stood to become general secretary of SIPTU in 1997, defeating Brendan Hayes and Carolann Duggan. Along with Hayes, he was considered part of the "mainstream" of the union. The first leader of SIPTU to be elected when not living in Dublin, McDonnell benefited from an 80% turnout among members in his south west region, but also won in some other areas, such as many Dublin branches.

As leader, McDonnell prioritised expanding the social partnership programme, believing that the unions could win more concessions, such as a £5 minimum wage and mandatory union recognition. Because SIPTU, at the time, expected leaders to retire when they reached the age of sixty, he committed from the start to serving a single five-year term.

In 2001, McDonnell was additionally elected as treasurer of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). After retiring from his union posts in 2003, the ICTU nominated him to serve on the board of Fáilte Ireland, the tourism development agency.