Chief welcomes 'tremendous' new leader

Sunderland City Council’s leader has welcomed the appointment of new Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The result, announced on Saturday, has been praised by Graeme Miller, Sunderland City Council’s Labour group leader, who had previously backed Starmer for the top job over rival contenders Lisa Nandy and Rebecca LongBailey.

“Keir has a tremendous track record,” Coun Miller said.

“He is a principled politician who can unite the party and ensure that we provide strong opposition to the Government.”

The former top prosecutor, who has been an MP since 2015, was elected in the first round of voting in the Labour Party leadership race securing more than half of all ballots cast.

Starmer will succeed Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the opposition Labour Party with Angela Rayner MP elected as deputy leader.

Sunderland City Council’s leader urged politicians to work together with one goal – to tackle the coronavirus pandemic – as “now is not a time for political point-scoring, but about asking pertinent questions of the Government, in the national interest”.

He added: “I look forward to seeing Keir and his new Shadow Cabinet helping with the national effort of beating COVID-19, which should be everyone’s sole focus right now.

“Normal politics will return in due course and I am certain that as leader of the opposition Keir Starmer will hold the Government to account and put forward a positive narrative to the British people, about the new offer from the Labour Party for the next general election, whenever that is.”