Labour’s leadership hopefuls to pre-record their victory speeches
LABOUR leadership hopeful Rebecca Long-bailey has confirmed that all candidates are to pre-record a victory speech ahead of the winner being announced this weekend.
The shadow business secretary said the move was to “deal with these strange times” following lockdown measures in the UK during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Ms Long-bailey, Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir Starmer are the three remaining candidates, with the successor to Jeremy Corbyn due to be announced on Saturday.
She said: “I think it’s trying to deal with these strange times and have an announcement on the leadership contest that our members and the public can view from their homes.
“It’s logistically quite challenging
“I think we’ve all been asked to do this victory speech so that it can be send out over the airwaves as quickly as possible after we win.
“I haven’t done mine yet, by the way.”
Asked if she would feel awkward recording the video ahead of the result, Ms Long-bailey said: “It’s going to be a bit bizarre.”
Separately, Sir Keir — the overwhelming favourite — is reported to be planning a ‘scorched earth’ removal of the hard-left if he wins the Labour leadership.
He is expected to promote moderates to key positions, with some suggesting Ms Long-bailey could miss out on the crucial job of shadow chancellor.
A source close to the current leadership said: “He wants young soft lefties who are brainy and, importantly, who most people don’t recognise.”
Another said: “It’s scorched earth, what he’s doing.
“He obviously thinks the left was a momentary phase in our history and that we should be apologised for and forgotten.”
Mr Corbyn’s close aides and Karie Murphy, and party general secretary Jennie Formby are widely expected to go when the leadership is changed.
Seumas Milne, Mr Corbyn’s communications chief, has reportedly already signalled he will resign.
While Ms Long Bailey and Lisa Nandy are expected to be offered positions, they will be kept out of his core team, sources have claimed.
Polls suggest Sir Keir is a long way ahead of Ms Long-bailey and Lisa Nandy.