Starmer in strong lead as Labour swings back to centre
AN ANALYSIS of Labour leadership nominations suggests there has been a swing away from Jeremy Corbyn’s wing of the party in the direction of Sir Keir Starmer.
In a number of cases, constituency Labour parties that previously nominated Mr Corbyn have now nominated Sir Keir – including, in Wales, Swansea West, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, Alyn & Deeside and Ynys Môn.
Overall, Sir Keir has a strong lead in nominations from local parties. Out of 231 constituency parties that have so far nominated candidates, Sir Keir has 138 against 58 for Rebecca Long-Bailey, seen as the “Continuity Corbyn” candidate, 26 for Lisa Nandy and 9 for Emily Thornberry.
Swansea council leader Rob Stewart, himself a Starmer supporter, said: “I think there is a swing in the party towards Keir Starmer because the party wants someone in charge who has a chance of being elected.
“Even some people who have voted for Jeremy Corbyn in the past aren’t transferring their support to Rebecca Long-Bailey, who is seen as in his mould. I think people are being a bit more pragmatic this time,
“Everyone in the Labour Party is on the left of the political spectrum, but I’d say that Jeremy Corbyn is on the left of the left.
“Keir Starmer is more on the centre left, and I think people recognise that’s the kind of Labour leader people outside the party would be happy to support.”
A Labour Party member who did not want to be named said: “Like many people I know, I was a strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, but things went wrong when he kept sitting on the fence over Brexit.
“We have now lost four General Elections in a row and frankly I am tired of losing.
“I know a lot of members who feel the same way.
“It’s clear that Jeremy Corbyn was a serious electoral liability and we can’t afford to have another leader like him. By being out of power, we are leaving disadvantaged people at the mercy of Boris Johnson and Co.”