Women winners in leader charge

FRONT RUNNERS Osamor, Nandy & Butler TOP Labour man John McDonnell said yesterday Jeremy Corbyn should be succeeded by a woman, so it was Ladies’ Day in this Liverpool Grand National. Women MPs easily outperformed the men at fringe meetings. I counted 43, out of a total of 119 at Westminster, in a single day. It was a record the men could only sit in the bar and envy. Rebecca Long-Bailey, a docker’s daughter and ex-pawn shop worker, was out front with seven scheduled races, some at the same time. I know women are multi-taskers, but this is ridiculous. She is talked of as the future deputy leader, thought my sources tell me that job will go to Dawn Butler, Shadow Equalities Minister, a strong front-bench performer. Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, ran in second, with four scheduled races. Other contenders included Kate Osamor, Emily Thornberry and Lisa Nandy. And Luciana, Diane, Sarah, Barbara, Emma, Julie, Yvette, Angela, Gloria, Alison, and Melanie. Yes, it was women winners all the way yesterday.