ONLY a mass movement with roots in every local community will have the strength to implement Labour’s economic programme, John McDonnell told a packed Marx Memorial Library (MML) audience on Tuesday night.

The shadow chancellor said that electing a Labour majority in the Commons and simply waiting for it to legislate for radical change “just won’t work” because of the conservative nature of state institutions.

The Labour leadership has been holding town meetings up and down Britain every other Saturday, he said, adding: “It’s bloody knackering!”

The meetings would begin with, “These are the statistics about this area, but what is your experience?” And after explaining Labour policy, they would ask for feedback on what was needed in each locality.

“We are now a mass movement again. This is one of the most exciting periods for the socialist movement that we’ve had in this country since the second world war,” the shadow chancellor declared, outlining Labour’s plans for “industrial democracy” and a department of employment in office.

He also saluted the groundwork done by the Institute of Employment Rights and its Manifesto for Labour Law, which will form the basis of Labour’s workplace rights revolution.

He then outlined his plans a second time for an overflow audience in Clerkenwell Green as the library was not large enough to accommodate the crowds.

Mr McDonnell was speaking on Labour’s economic policy at the library, following his election as one of its new vice-presidents, taking up the vacancy left by the death of former Unison general secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe. He said he was honoured to take up the role.

MML archivist and manager Meirian Jump said the library was delighted at Mr McDonnell’s election. “With growing interest in socialism, we think he will be a great ambassador for our vital work,” she said.