‘Brilliant’ Long-Bailey tipped for the top
REBECCA Long-Bailey was in pole position to succeed Jeremy Corbyn last night after John McDonnell appeared to anoint her as the Left’s chosen candidate.
He described Miss Long-Bailey, the 40year-old MP for Salford and Eccles, as ‘brilliant’ – and said the next Labour leader should definitely be a woman.
Labour’s business spokesman has long been the protege of the leadership, as they see her as the most reliable bearer of the hard-Left flame.
In an interview yesterday, Mr McDonnell namechecked four frontbenchers: Mrs Long-Bailey, education spokesman Angela Rayner, justice spokesman Richard Burgon and equalities spokesman Dawn Butler.
But he did not offer his support to Jess Phillips and Lisa Nandy, backbenchers who have criticised Mr Corbyn’s leadership.
Yesterday Miss Nandy said she was ‘seriously thinking’ about running as a candidate to replace Mr Corbyn, a process which will begin on January 7. Asked about the leadership on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Mr McDonnell said: ‘Becky is brilliant. She could be a brilliant leader. You’ve got alongside her Angela Rayner.’
Mr McDonnell was then asked about Miss Nandy and Miss Phillips. He replied: ‘You can see a whole team developing of this new generation. Dawn Butler.
‘It’s interesting how many women are there. I think it should be a woman leader next time. I’ve said that consistently. I don’t think there’s any difference – much difference anyway – in terms of policy.’
The Shadow Chancellor said he would not want Miss Phillips to win. ‘I’d prefer others, but the members will decide. You know, Jess is really talented and I hope she comes on board and that would be great. She’ll have a great contribution to make because she speaks from the grassroots. But I want someone who actually has been, you know, really solidly involved in the development of our existing policy.
‘That’s why Becky and Angie and Dawn and others have been so good.’
Mr McDonnell said the next leader should come from outside London because so many northern seats had been lost. Asked again about Miss Nandy, he said: ‘There’s a whole range of people out there who can come forward. You know my view, I think Becky Long-Bailey’s done a great job. But you’ve got a team there.’
Former Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop said: ‘If you’re thinking of voting for Rebecca Long-Bailey or Burgon for any leadership election, you may as well just vote Tory again in 2024. It’ll have exactly the same consequence.’