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Labour leadership: Momentum urges members to back Long Bailey Labour leadership: Momentum urges members to back Long Bailey
(about 2 hours later)
Campaign group calls Long Bailey ‘only viable candidate’, and backs Angela Rayner for deputy leadershipCampaign group calls Long Bailey ‘only viable candidate’, and backs Angela Rayner for deputy leadership
The steering committee at the head of left-wing group Momentum has unanimously voted to back Rebecca Long Bailey in the Labour leadership race.The steering committee at the head of left-wing group Momentum has unanimously voted to back Rebecca Long Bailey in the Labour leadership race.
The organisation’s national coordinating group (NCG) recommended that its approximately 40,000 members support Long Bailey as well as Angela Rayner for deputy leader.The organisation’s national coordinating group (NCG) recommended that its approximately 40,000 members support Long Bailey as well as Angela Rayner for deputy leader.
The NCG said Long Bailey was the “only viable candidate” for leader able to build on the party’s “socialist agenda”.The NCG said Long Bailey was the “only viable candidate” for leader able to build on the party’s “socialist agenda”.
The body also announced it would ballot its members on the recommendation.The body also announced it would ballot its members on the recommendation.
The news followed a meeting of the NCG on Saturday to discuss the Labour leadership race. After “in-depth discussion” the group had decided to ballot its members on its top choices of Long Bailey and Rayner.The news followed a meeting of the NCG on Saturday to discuss the Labour leadership race. After “in-depth discussion” the group had decided to ballot its members on its top choices of Long Bailey and Rayner.
An email has been sent to all Momentum members announcing the plan, but it has been met with criticism by some who expected an open ballot.An email has been sent to all Momentum members announcing the plan, but it has been met with criticism by some who expected an open ballot.
Momentum’s statement said: “Our coordinating group believe Rebecca Long Bailey is the only viable candidate who will build on Labour’s vision for the future, deepen democracy in the party and unite all of our heartlands at the next election.” Momentum’s statement said the group believes Long Bailey is the “only viable candidate who can build on our socialist agenda, deepen democracy in the party and unite all of our heartlands at the next election.”
“We also need a leadership team who trust each other, work well together and will lead a united front against the Tories and that’s why our coordinating group have recommended support for Angela Rayner.” Announcing support for Rayner, the statement said: “We need a leader and deputy leader who trust each other, work well together and will unite our party in opposition to the Tories.
“While it is important left candidates get the support they need, this is a huge decision and that’s why we’re balloting our members.” An earlier version of the tweet was deleted by Momentum due to a wording error.
A tweet with a screenshot of the statement has since been deleted from Twitter without explanation amid a backlash among Momentum members who object to not being balloted first ahead of the group’s recommendation.
The tweet said the ballot would be emailed to members on Monday or Tuesday and would consist of two questions, although it didn’t specify the questions.
On Twitter the decision to ballot members after the recommendation was called a “stitch-up” with members demanding the chance to fully have their say.