Can Nandy really win Labour throne?
Union backs her with TV mock-up – as Phillips quits
LABOUR’S leadership battle effectively became a three-horse race yesterday after Lisa Nandy gained the backing of the powerful GMB union – receiving a Game of Thrones-style endorsement.
The Wigan MP was nominated by the General, Municipal, Boilermakers union, meaning she is all but certain to get on the final ballot paper sent to Labour members next month.
The union announced the nomination with a mock-up photo on social media, portraying Miss Nandy as a character on TV fantasy hit Game of Thrones. It also nominated Angela Rayner as deputy leader, showing her as a fighter from the Hunger Games series of films.
The endorsement of the GMB, which has 630,000 members, came after backbencher Jess Phillips pulled out of the race following her failure to win the backing of a major union. She admitted she would not be able to bring the party together after its ‘cataclysmic’ election defeat.
Her decision leaves four candidates – Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long- Bailey, Miss Nandy and Emily Thornberry. But, without the support of any unions, it seems unlikely Miss Thornberry will progress much further. Candidates need the nominations of three Labour affiliates – including at least two unions – which amount to at least 5 per cent of affiliate members. The only other route on to the ballot paper is by receiving nominations from at least 33 constituency parties. GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: ‘Lisa Nandy is a breath of fresh air in the debate over Labour’s future. The more members see of Lisa in this contest, the more impressed they will be by her ambition, optimism and decisive leadership. GMB is proud to nominate her. ‘Lisa won’t shy away from the tough challenges or bold decisions that lie ahead, because she knows that after 15 years of losing elections, more of the same won’t cut it.’ Mother of-one Miss Nandy, 40, who already had the support of the National Union of Mineworkers, said: ‘Labour is at a crossroads. To win again we will have to up our game, recover our ambition and inspire a movement. The GMB, the biggest industrial union which speaks for more than half a million workers, has been offering that leadership time and time again in recent years.’
Mrs Long- Bailey, 40, is expected to pick up the support of the Unite union to be frontrunner Sir Keir’s main rival.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir, 57, has already secured his place on the final ballot paper with backing from unions Unison and Usdaw.
‘Lisa is a breath of fresh air’