Momentum members back Rebecca Long-Bailey and Angela Rayner Labour leadership team
3 min read
Momentum members have voted overwhelmingly to endorse Rebecca Long-Bailey's bid to be the next Labour party leader.
They also backed the pro-Corbyn campaign group's decision to support Angela Rayner's attempt to become deputy leader, but by a far closer margin.
Members of Momentum's steering group agreed at the weekend to support what is effectively a Long-Bailey/Rayner leadership joint ticket, and asked the group's members to endorse that decision.
A total of 7,395 took part in the survey, with 70% backing Ms Long-Bailey and 52% supporting Ms Rayner.
The result is another boost for Ms Long-Bailey's leadership campaign, and comes after a poll of Labour members gave her a narrow lead over her main rival, Sir Keir Starmer.
A Momentum spokesman said: "Our membership has spoken and overwhelmingly backed Rebecca Long-Bailey to be the next leader of the Labour Party and the next Prime Minister of the UK.
"We will now be mobilising thousands to persuade Labour members in the coming months.
"Rebecca is at the heart of a new and diverse generation of socialists who recognise that we cannot return to the politics of the past. She has spent the last few years pioneering the policies of the future, including a detailed plan for a Green New Deal that can revive communities that have been ignored, bring the country together and lead the world in combating the climate crisis.
"She is an experienced, principled and inspiring candidate and our movement is proud to support her for leadership."
However, the Momentum statement made no mention of Angela Rayner.
Ms Long-Bailey said: "Momentum members alongside hundreds of thousands of other Labour members worked day and night across the country to elect a Labour government last December, knocking on millions of doors.
"I am proud and beyond grateful to be backed by an organisation that has revolutionised how we campaign. I will deliver on the trust Momentum members have placed in me, with a plan to win the next general election and transform our country for the future."
Meanwhile, the TSSA is to ballot its members on who it should back for leader and deputy leader.
The trade union heard appeals from support from seven candidates before drawing up a short list of Rebecca Long-Bailey and Keir Starmer for leader and Angela Rayner and Rosena Allin-Khan for deputy.
General secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Our executive committee has decided after meeting and questioning the runners and riders for Leader and Deputy Leader that our members who pay our political levy will have the final say on who our union will nominate.
"It's their view that either Rebecca Long-Bailey or Keir Starmer will make a great leader of our Party and that Angela Rayner and Rosena Allin-Khan also cut the mustard when it comes to becoming our Deputy Leader.
"Our members will now get the final say, through a ballot, on which of these excellent candidates we will nominate."
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