Rebecca Long Bailey confirms she could launch bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader
3 min read
Rebecca Long Bailey has confirmed that she could enter the contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
The Shadow Business Secretary said she was "considering standing" as the race to take over from the outgoing party boss hots up.
Her announcement, in an article in The Guardian, came just hours after party chairman Ian Lavery said he was also thinking about throwing his hat into the ring.
Ms Long Bailey, who has already received the backing of Shadow Cabinet colleagues John McDonnell and Richard Burgon, conceded that backing a second EU referendum had been one of the reasons Labour had lost the general election - but said that "we can’t blame Brexit alone, and we must recognise that it’s no good having the right solutions if people don’t believe you can deliver them".
She said: "Over the next few months, we must have an honest discussion about why we lost and how we can win.
"Strategies designed in Westminster were partly to blame, but it’s also true that Labour’s support has been falling in many communities for a decade or more. We must rebuild trust, not only in our party but in the idea that change really is possible.
The MP for Salford and Eccles said Labour must win back the heartland seats in northern England it lost to the Tories at the general election, while also appealing to voters in the rest of the country.
"Over the next few years, our task is to rebuild the broad base of support that will get us into government and this work must begin immediately," she said. "From ex-miners in Blyth Valley to migrant cleaners in Brixton and from small businesses in Stoke on Trent to the self employed in Salford, we have to unite our communities in all their diversity."
In an apparent swipe at Jeremy Corbyn - whose ability to connect with Labour's traditional working class base has been called into question - she added: "Britain has a long history of patriotism rooted in working life, built upon unity and pride in the common interests and shared life of everyone.
"To win we must revive this progressive patriotism and solidarity in a form fit for modern Britain. While Boris Johnson criticises single mothers and likens Muslim women to bank robbers, we must stand for pride in our communities, dignity in our work and a common purpose that unites communities across the country."
Ms Long Bailey also appeared to confirm that her close friend, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner, will run to be Labour's next deputy leader and that she will support her when she does.
She said: "We are strongest when we stand together as a pluralist Labour family. That is why I’m not only considering standing to be leader, but also supporting Angela Rayner as deputy.
"Leadership means leading a team, working with every part of our movement and using all our party’s talents to fight the Conservatives at every turn and map Labour’s route back to power.
"Millions woke up to a nightmare on December 13th. It’s our duty to make sure that doesn’t happen again."
Her announcement sets up a battle to become the standard bearer for the Labour left in the leadership race, which is due to run until the end of March.
As well as Mr Lavery, Clive Lewis has also confirmed that he plans to run with a pledge to continue to policies championed by Jeremy Corbyn.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has also confirmed that she will stand, while Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir Starmer have also said they are considering leadership bids.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
