Last month I tried to stand for election as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, but failed to secure sufficient support from Labour MPs to allow my name to be on the ballot paper.

I want local people to know why. I have worked hard over the last ten years as the local MP to improve the quality of life in our community. What I have found is that there is a need to change national policies if communities like ours are to thrive.

By standing for the leadership I wanted the country to have the opportunity to debate a set of alternative policies for our future.

These are: - Withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and to stop the waste of £76billion on Trident nuclear weapons.

- Ending the privatisation of our health and public services.

- Increasing state pensions and restoring the link with earnings.

- A commitment to free comprehensive education with the scrapping of tuition fees.

- Tackling climate change by developing alternative sustainable energy sources.

- Protecting civil liberties and promoting trade union rights to protect people in work.

I have recently published a booklet entitled Another World is Possible which sets out an analysis of the challenges we face.

In it I have set out an honest assessment of our society's position. It can be pretty bleak reading.

There has been a breakdown in trust in politics. We now live in a society which is more unequal than at any time since WWII.

Over two million pensioners and three million children still live in poverty in Britain despite this country being the fifth richest in the world.

People feel increasingly insecure both in the community because of crime and anti social behaviour and at work because of insecure employment and lack of Trade Union rights.

The planet's environment is being plundered for profit and we live in a world of fear because of wars and terrorism. It doesn't have to be like this, and I have set out in my book a range of policies which could ensure that another world is possible. Copies of my book are available: £2 on request.

John McDonnell is the Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington