‘I’m ready to lead new generation of socialists forward’
REBECCA Long-Bailey flexed her socialist pedigree as she declared “Welcome to the people’s republic of Salford” in a speech on her home turf.
In an attempt to energise her bid to become Labour’s next national leader, the city’s MP addressed a rally held at The Lowry arts centre at Salford Quays.
Salford’s Labour council, led by City Mayor, Paul Dennett, is regarded as a northern Corbynista stronghold.
She was brutally honest in explaining why her party was routed in December’s General Election and lost 59 seats. But she insisted the party should not take the “easy option” of giving up some of its policies.
Ms Long-Bailey, 40, spoke of the “terrible moment” when Labour’s support collapsed in its own heartlands.
Yet, referring to the party’s key players in that disaster, she said: “I’ve learned so much from Jeremy, John and Diane. They helped our party and our movement rediscover its heart and soul.
“We owe them so much and I thank them for their huge efforts. But they have done their bit and it is time for a new generation to take us forward. And I, for one, am ready to take up the mantle of socialist leadership.”
She added: “In December the march to advance working people suffered another setback. I was devastated watching the results come in across the Red Wall. I was angry. But at that most terrible moment, I knew we would come back.
“We’ve mourned. We got angry. We’ve bargained. We’ve gone through all the stages of grief these past two months. And now it’s time to look to the future.
“I’ve already spoken about why we lost the election: an incoherent message, a breakdown in trust with voters in our heartlands because we were more interested in winning games in parliament than listening to them and not being robust enough when we were attacked. We should have been better.
“We have to be credible to regain trust with voters.”