UK: Lisa Nandy top contender to lead Labour Party
LONDON: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn apologised on Sunday for leading the party to one of its worst defeats in last Thursday’s election, as Lisa Nandy, daughter of a West Bengal-born Marxist, emerged as one of two frontrunners to replace him early next year.
Corbyn wrote in two Sunday papers, claiming that the party won the argument, but regretted not being able to convert it into a majority for change. His deputy and shadow chancellor, John Mcdonnell, also accepted blame and apologised. Nandy, 40, is daughter of Dipak Nandy, and Labour MP from Wigan, Greater Manchester. She confirmed she is ‘seriously considering’ running for the leadership. Nandy is one of two favourites, besides Rebecca Long-bailey, MP from Salford and Eccles, also 40.
Corbyn wrote in The Observer: “We have suffered a heavy defeat, and I take my responsibility for it. Labour will soon have a new leader. But whoever that will be, our movement will continue to work for a more equal and just society, and a sustainable and peaceful world”.
“There is no doubt that our policies are popular, from public ownership of rail and key utilities to a massive house-building programme and a pay rise for millions. The question is, how can we succeed in future where we didn’t this time?”
Mcdonnell blamed the focus on Brexit and the news media’s alleged biased reporting of Labour and Corbyn for the defeat, but added in a BBC Sunday television show: “It’s on me...i own this disaster. I apologise to all those wonderful Labour MPS who’ve lost their seats .”
Labour’s national executive committee will announce the schedule for the election of the next party leader, most likely to be concluded by February. Besides Nandy and Long-bailey, those likely to contest include Keir Starmer, Emily Thornberry and Jess Phillips.
Nandy, born to Dipak Nandy and Luise Nandy (nee Byers), has politics in her family. Her father, who arrived from India in 1956, founded the think-tank Runnymede Trust.