Politics

Angela Rayner ‘to step aside and back Rebecca Long-Bailey for Labour leader’



Angela Rayner is expected to clear the way for her flatmate Rebecca Long-Bailey to run to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, according to reports.

The shadow education secretary is reportedly set to run for deputy leader in a bid that would allow Ms Long-Bailey a smoother path towards the top job.

Ashton-under-Lyne MP Ms Rayner has not made a final decision but is exploring a deputy leadership bid, according to multiple reports.

Ms Long-Bailey, shadow business secretary and MP for Salford, is one of several candidates said to be a possible successor to Mr Corbyn, having received the backing of senior figures in the party’s current leadership.

It comes as Mr Corbyn said he would quit as Labour leader in the early part of next year after the party suffered its worst General Election defeat since 1935.

It is understood Mr Corbyn will address his much diminished parliamentary Labour party in Westminster on Tuesday, where he will likely face disgruntled MPs.

 

The Labour leadership battle descended into acrimony on Sunday after another contender, Emily Thornberry, was accused by former MP Caroline Flint of labelling Leave voters “stupid” following the European referendum result in 2016.

Shadow foreign secretary Ms Thornberry accused Ms Flint, who lost her Don Valley seat in the election, of spreading the “most extraordinary lies” and confirmed she had approached her solicitors over the remarks.

Caroline Flint claims Emily Thornberry called a fellow Labour MP’s constituents ‘stupid’

Ms Flint accused Ms Thornberry of telling a colleague after the 2016 referendum, “I’m glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours” and said the comments were “not acceptable”.

The Islington South and Finsbury MP, speaking on Sky News on Monday, said she had asked Ms Flint to rescind the comment before she started legal action.

“One of my former colleagues came out and said the most extraordinary lies about me,” Ms Thornberry, who is also considered a candidate in the Labour leadership race, said.

“I’ve contacted her and I’ve said to her, ‘Please withdraw, I will give you until the end of the day’ and she hasn’t.

“So I’ve had to go to solicitors. I mean, people can slag me off – so long as it is true, I’ll take it on the chin.”

Labour’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, reportedly wrote to the party’s ruling National Executive Committee recommending the contest starts on January 7, with the view of having a new leader by the end of March.

Sadiq Khan earlier ruled himself out of the Labour leadership contest, saying he is more interested in winning a second term as London mayor.

Mr Khan said he is “absolutely” more interested in continuing at City Hall.

He said on Monday: “I think we showed in 2016 the difference winning elections makes by winning the mayoralty after eight years of a Conservative mayor.

“We’ve showed over the last four years the difference Labour winning can do.”

The former MP for Tooting won the mayoralty in 2016, following on from now-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He added: “My focus is on delivering for Londoners and when the campaign begins next year to win the mayoral election, so we can continue improving people’s lives for the better.”

Mr Khan said Mr Corbyn should step away from the leadership “sooner rather than later”, but did not specifically name any potential candidates who would have his support.



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