John McDonnell waving Mao’s Little Red Book in the Commons. What could possibly go wrong?
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No, I appreciate that it sounds an unlikely scenario. Yet, in the Commons this afternoon, this is what the shadow chancellor did. If you weren’t watching, don’t worry – you’ll see the footage. It’ll be in every Conservative Party TV broadcast for the next four and a half years.
What makes it all the more fascinating is, he clearly thought he was being clever. He was responding to George Osborne’s Autumn Statement, and had just made a perfectly reasonable point about the Chancellor sucking up to the Chinese. But evidently Mr McDonnell felt that the point, as it stood, lacked impact. He wanted to make it memorable. Imaginative. Visual. Was there, perhaps, some sort of satirical prop he could deploy, to win a laugh at the Chancellor’s expense?
He reached into his trouser pocket. “To assist Comrade Osborne in his dealings with his newfound comrades,” he crowed, “I’ve brought along Mao’s ‘Little Red Book’!”
Sitting just along from Mr McDonnell was Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson. Very slowly, Mr Watson’s mouth opened. Then it closed. Then his eyes closed. Then they reopened. No – they hadn’t deceived him. There was his colleague, flicking casually through the selected musings of the most prolifically murderous Communist dictator in history.
Mr Watson shot a glance at Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour leader appeared entirely unperturbed – even by the delighted gusts of laughter billowing across from the Tory benches. The laughter was so delirious that the Speaker had to appeal for calm. Rehearsing this little skit, Mr McDonnell probably imagined that the laughter would come from the MPs sitting behind him, rather than those sitting opposite. But it was too late now. He battled on.
“I think you’ll find this invaluable,” he continued. “Let’s quote from Mao…”
The quote, in the end, didn’t sound much of a zinger, but it certainly found an appreciative audience. “MOOOOOORRRRE!” bellowed Tory MPs. Mr Osborne rose, and picked up the Little Red Book, which Mr McDonnell had tossed in his direction. “Oh look!” he cried. “It’s his personal signed copy!” David Cameron looked as if he might burst.
Afterwards, a helpful Labour Party staffer visited the parliamentary press corridor to inform each office in turn that “obviously John was just joking”. Indeed he was. And the joke went down very well. Albeit with the wrong people.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/autu ... ong.html?xMcDonnell is a 1st class, stupid arsehole. He could have wiped the floor with Osborne but instead we get this "Chairman Mao" gift to the Tories. McDonnell & Corbyn have as much political sense as the Chuckle Brothers. Pillocks.
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