Thornberry backed as next Opposition leader

EMILY THORNBERRY has been tipped as the next Labour leader by the boss of one of the party’s biggest financial backers.

Len Mccluskey, the general secretary of the Unite union, is reportedly backing the shadow foreign secretary for the top job, telling friends the next leader has to be a woman. The Huffington Post reported a source close to Mr Mccluskey, who claimed his support for Ms Thornberry was “evident and longstanding”. The source said: “He sees her as a tough cookie who isn’t afraid of taking big decisions.

“Of course, there is no vacancy and there won’t be for the foreseeable future. Len totally backs Jeremy [Corbyn] and wants him to be Prime Minister. But the next Labour leader has to be a woman and Len believes Emily is a unifying figure.”

Mr Mccluskey is said to have made his views known at a recent private meeting.