« What Future the Political Party? | Home | Tonight: the Politics of Electoral Reform »
Remembering Redmond O’Neill
By Andy | October 29, 2009
On Friday morning the funeral takes place of Redmond O’Neill who was latterly Ken Livingstone’s Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the Mayor of London. Sadly I won’t be able to be at the funeral as I have fond memories of Redmond; I hope everyone there has a good day.
As an International Marxist and leading member of Socialist Action Redmond was not the most likely character for me to remember so fondly here. I worked closely with Redmond during the time that I was the Chair of Labour Reform, a centre left grouping campaigning for Party democracy that emerged during the late nineties. This was the period when members began to become truly alarmed at the state of internal democracy and began to think how joint initiatives and actions could move the balance of power within Labour back to the ordinary member.
While being firmly a man of the left Redmond was both practical and a pragmatist. He understood — and really understood — that there was real value in working together. These qualities marked him out as different and are probably why he was so reviled by members of the lunatic left. This new alliance began to develop real momentum and create some significant ideas which involved give and take, and change, across the breadth of its political spectrum. For example, it was largely due to Redmond that the left in the Labour Party seriously adopted the principles of OMOV (one member one vote for the first time). It was a pleasure to work with Redmond. He was razor sharp in his thought and analysis, meticulous in his organisation and yet fun to be around. I always enjoyed — and looked forward to — meetings with Redmond
This cycle of alliance building led to the creation of the Grassroot Alliance which was formed to put forward a centre-left slate for the new member sections of the NEC and the National Policy Forum. The Alliance endures to this day; it is only through the GA that ordinary members have been able to draw on the work of people like Anne Black who have solidly championed the rights of members. And it is only through the GA members of the NEC that ordinary Party members have had any clue as to what has been going on there.
After I stepped down as Chair of Labour Reform I only bumped into Redmond occasionally. I was always pleased to see him but — as Ken Livingstone has highlighted — Redmond was a very private person and it wasn’t always easy to get to know him outside of the political task of the day. It was good to see that through the office of the Mayor redmond was able to finally to get to use his talents to support governance as well as campaigning.
I suppose there will be a lot of analysis of Redmond’s political life this week, as there always is when someone of the left dies. Discussion will focus on obscure choices and the fine lines the distinguish policy and philosophy, many of which are completely beyond me. I prefer a more simple means of assessing the legacy of a political player. Through their actions did they leave the world a little better than they found it? I’m sure that Redmond did.
I shall miss Redmond and will make some time to remember him on Friday. And I’ll have a big smile on my face as he is buried in Highgate Cemetery.
Topics: People |
October 29th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
A fine tribute to a fine activist … I remember him fondly as a man who, if he made a political promise (at least to me), kept it.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I lost contact with my cousin Redmond, but reading the tributes to him including yours! I feel so proud that he was (is) my cousin who was respected by so many…thought Mr Livingstone’s was most sincere & personal.
For me he was just my cousin who I enjoyed playing car slot racing on his bedroom floor…
He was gentle, kind, inteligent & his broad smile lit up every room he was in.
Rest in peace Redmond.
Much love, Michael.