John McDonnell was born in Liverpool and raised in Norfolk. On leaving school John worked on the shopfloor as a production worker. After studying at nightschool he went to University and subsequently became a trade union official with the NUM and later with TUC. In 1981, he was elected to the Greater London Council as the member for Hayes and Harlington.  John became Chair of Finance, responsible for the GLC’s £3billion budget. After the abolition of the GLC he became…