Lisa Nandy through to final round of Labour leadership contest as she wins over party's Chinese affiliate
2 min read
Lisa Nandy has become the second Labour leadership contender to make it through the contest's final round after winning the backing of another key group.
The Wigan MP has hoovered up the support of the Chinese for Labour group, meaning she now has the required three backers from either unions or affiliates of the party.
Ms Nandy - who has already won the backing of the GMB and NUM trade unions - is the second Labour candidate to make it on to the ballot of members, with Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer already making the cut.
Reacting to the news, Ms Nandy said: "As someone of mixed heritage, I'm incredibly proud that it is Chinese for Labour who have secured my place on the ballot paper.
"They do incredibly important work to ensure we are a representative and inclusive party that can truly speak for modern Britain.
"I'm now looking forward to getting out intro the country and laying out my vision for reuniting the party, rebuilding trust, and returning Labour to power at the next election."
Labour MP Sarah Owen, the chair of Chinese for Labour, meanwhile told HuffPost UK that the group had been won over by Ms Nandy's "call to properly examine why seats that have always voted Labour have gone Tory for the first time."
And she said the group, which is backing Dawn Butler for the party's deputy leadership, could "not miss this opportunity to endorse two strong BAME women".
She added: "Only in power can Labour make the radical changes that are so desperately needed for our towns and communities. We believe that Lisa is the right candidate to take us there."
Ms Nandy's place on the ballot means leaves fellow challengers Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry duking it out for either the support of unions and affiliates or the backing of 33 Constituency Labour Party.
The fresh boost for the Wigan MP comes after she won the backing of former contender Jess Phillips, the Birmingham Yardley MP who dropped out of the race on Tuesday.
Ms Phillips has meanwhile announced that she is backing Ian Murray, Labour's only remaining Scottish MP, for the deputy leadership job.
She said: "Our party needs to change for the future and Ian is my first preference for Labour deputy leader.
"Labour must be a party for every region and nation of the UK, standing up for our values of solidarity and working together, and Ian is the candidate who best understands that."
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