labourlist--2020-01-12--Hundreds of Labour members urge MPs to put Dawn Butler on the ballot paper

Almost 500 Labour members have signed a statement urging MPs and MEPs to help deputy leadership hopeful Dawn Butler make it onto the ballot paper .
The Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary has received 15 nominations from her parliamentary party colleagues so far – falling short of the 22 required to enter the next stage of Labour ’ s deputy leadership election .
To avoid being knocked out of the race , Butler needs seven of the 60 Labour MPs and MEPs who have not yet handed in their nominations papers to vote in her favour before the Monday deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an equalities advocate , “ unwavering ” support for Labour and “ powerful ” speeches , the statement currently signed by 468 members says her voice and politics should be included to “ recognise the diversity of our membership ” .
Current frontrunner Angela Rayner has already exceeded the threshold with 72 nominations , while Scottish MP Ian Murray is also through on 30 .
Richard Burgon and Rosena Allin-Khan are slightly ahead of Butler but have not yet won enough support either .
Leadership candidates must win the support of 10 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 % of local parties or three affiliate organisations including two trade unions to secure their places on the leader and deputy leader ballot papers .
Below is the full text of the statement .
We are grassroots members of the Labour Party who believe that Dawn Butler deserves to be on the deputy leadership ballot paper .
Her work on liberation as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities has been fantastic , and she has been a real advocate for women , BAME people , LGBT+ people , disabled people , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of media and internal hostility .
She has shown unwavering support for the party all the way through , and with her powerful speeches has inspired many people to see her as a deserving candidate for the deputy leadership position .
While not all of us have decided which way we are voting , we certainly think that we , along with our fellow members , deserve a real choice in the election .
Dawn ’ s voice , and the politics she represents , must absolutely be on the ballot paper to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just in identity but also in thought .
It would be a shame for her to miss the chance to put her case forward to the membership , just because she didn ’ t receive the required number of nominations from a small part of our vast Labour movement .
We call on MPs and MEPs to nominate Dawn so she can reach the 22 nominations required to progress to the next stage , as well as for MPs and MEPs who have already nominated someone else to ask their fellow PLP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We also call on members and staffers who know MPs and MEPs to consider making the case to them , so we can truly represent the party in all its glory .
Saranya Thambirajah , Harrow West , Maliha Reza , North East Bedfordshire , CLP Youth Officer / LCF Representative Ansh Bhatnagar , Slough , London Labour Students Chair Chlöe Hopkins , Beverley and Holderness , Women ’ s Officer Anisha Faruk , Oxford West & Abingdon Stefano Vozza , Bermondsey and Old Southwark Amen Tesfay , Enfield North , Youth coordinator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Amber Goodwin , Hull West and Hessle , CLP chair Nassime Bizori , Liverpool Wavertree Khaled Kiswani , Feltham and Heston Alex Thomas , Torfaen , CWU Delegate Emily Bagnall , Canterbury , Youth Officer Canterbury CLP , Canterbury Christchurch Student Union Labour Society President Krissie Beadle , Hastings and Rye Daniel Richards , Cardiff Central Ana Oppenheim , Hackney North and Stoke Newington Dana Byrne , Canterbury Ben McGowan , Bromley & Chislehurst Abby Tomlinson , Poplar and Limehouse Beth Desmond , Brighton , Pavilion Isla Whateley , Vauxhall Eloise Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair of Queen Mary Labour Society Abdallah Al-Ammari , Stirling , BAME Officer , Scottish Young Labour Jacob Armstrong , Blaydon Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam , Brent North , Youth Officer Joe Bailey , Weaver Vale Benedict Lawrence , Orpington , Milly Whibberley , Mid Derbyshire CLP Jabu Nala-Hartley , Oxford , Council candidate Aaron Smith , Oxford East Patrick Jenkins , Greenwich and Woolwich , Labour for a Public Vote Organiser Lola Fayokun , Hornchurch and Upminster , BAME Officer for LSE Labour Society , Campaigns and Membership Officer for Havering and Dagenham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Finsbury , Youth Officer Jenni Thorburn , Vauxhall CLP Joseph Hamm , Loughborough James Marsh , Truro and Falmouth , Youth Officer , FX Labour Society Secretary Edward Williamson , Chipping Barnet Arthur Webber , Peterborough CLP , Labour Students National Trans Officer Aniqah Choudhri , Wythenshawe and Sale East Neal Tank , Ealing Central and Acton Callum Mair , Streatham David Holderness , Cheadle CLP , Sean Smyth , Manchester Central CLP , Reuben Duffy , Airdrie and Shotts William Sorenson , Oxford East Holly Weston , Hull North Wrenna Robson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheffield South East James Bedford , Oldham East and Saddleworth Mike Campbell , Walthamstow Benjamin Smith , Isle of Wight , Youth and Students Officer Duncan Davis , Nottingham East Tom Gann , Chipping Barnet , Editor New Socialist Jonathan Biggins , Nottingham South Jamil Ismaili , Cardiff South & Penarth Dee Stuart , Ruislip , Northwood and Pinner , LGBT Officer Kayleigh Wenham , Holgate York Dylan James Hamilton , Grantham and Stamford John Watson , Sheffield Central Zac Hills , Bosworth Luke Myer , Liverpool Riverside C. Leech , Hackney South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North West Young Labour Joe Baker , Doncaster Central , Post grad rep UoN labour Alena Ivanova , Bethnal Green and Bow , Women ’ s Forum secretary Charlie Harrington , Runnymede & Weybridge Kourosh Newman-Zand , Hove Charlie Caine , Norwich North Fabian Newton-Edgar , Leeds North East , Youth Officer Chelsea Chadwick , City of Durham Sinan Kose , Nottingham South , Youth Officer Vik Chechi-Ribeiro , Withington Joanne McEwan , Oxford Harith Aldeghather , North East Herts Dylan Hever Whyte , Inverness and Nairn , Youth Officer Alex Moreland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leeds Young Labour Secretary Daniel Eales , Darlington Rabyah Khan , Oxford West & Abingdon , Chair Ali Lloyd , Edinburgh Northern & Leith Peter Miles , Mid Worcestershire Conor Brogan , NE Herts , LCF CHAIR Max Holloway , Welwyn Hatfield , Councillor and Campaign Coordinator Heather Middlehurst , St Helens South & Whiston Charlie Turner , Lewes Owen Emmerson , Wealden Jay Staker , Oxford East , Labour councillor candidate Ben Ackland , Lewes Richard Mischook , Northern Ireland , Party Member Jacob Richardson , Haltemprice and Howden John Webber , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Somerset Elizabeth Darbyshire-Brown , Birmingham Selly Oak Megan Goacher , Wirral Abigail Mattingly , Wycombe CLP , Women ’ s Officer Jason Okundaye , Battersea Bethany Edwards , Spelthorne , Communications Officer Jenny Harrison , North Shropshire Tom Halligan , Riverside CLP Arielle Bennett-Lovell , Stevenage , Membership Officer Joe Cooper , Wimbledon Paul Trembath , Liverpool Riverside Josh Kitto , Mitcham and Morden Sophie Parker-Rees , East Devon Jonathan Bagley , Sheffield Heeley Barnaby Walker , Hammersmith Corey Davies , Manchester Central Graeme Tierney , Tottenham Paul Watson , Stretford & Urmston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair Lewisham Deptford Womens forum Blue Weiss , Hornsey and Wood Green Joseph Razavi , Manchester Gorton Ian D. Morris , Oxford Lina Slim , Islington South Valerie , Islington north CLP Tim Broughton , Stevenage , TULO James Grogan , Ilford North Gary Spedding , Tynemouth CLP , Vice Chair of Tynemouth Branch Labour Will Ako , Chingford and Wood Green Nicki Kindersley , Cardiff North Estella Adeyeri , Hornsey and Wood Green Siobhán Campbell , Romford CLP Megan Thomas , Cardiff South and Penarth , Vice Chair ( Policy and Campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TULO Fraser Amos , Coventry North West , Warwick Labour Society Co-Chair Jack Hancock , Salford and Eccles Giles Walton , Vauxhall Jenny Symmons , Bethnal Green and Bow , Campaigns Officer James Laister-Smith , Coventry South Will Yong , Camberwell and Peckham , Vice Chair Membership ( branch ) , GC Delegate ( CLP ) Dan Jones , Sefton Central Samuel Burns , Chingford and Woodford Green , GC delegate Katey Pugh , Canterbury , Political Education Officer Tom King , Walthamstow Patrick Rafferty , Brighton , Kemptown Lawrence Monk , Birkenhead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brownhills CLP Chair Altair Seel , Stirling Cian Ireland , Stirling , Treasurer of Stirling Labour Society James Caruana , Cardiff South and Penarth Jack Fielding , Bath , Acting LGBT Officer Samir Rana , Bristol West A. Currie , Glasgow South Oliver Daly , Erith and Thamesmead Moshe Mankoff , Gateshead Teresa Clark , Lewisham West and Penge , Acting Chair , Women ’ s Conference Arrangements Committee ( in personal capacity ) CLP Secretary , Lewisham West and Penge ( in personal capacity ) James Simpson , Birmingham Yardley CLP Ian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Carlisle Lee Starr-Elliott , Bristol South Ellie Milne-Brown , Oxford West and Abingdon Rebecca Whalley , Bristol West George Cammack , Exeter , President of Exeter University Labour Society Róisín Spencer , Lewisham East Eden Ladley , Macclesfield Sennen Cork , Bristol South Billy Smith , Leeds North West Kate Byard , Exeter Róisín McCallion , Oxford West and Abingdon Mark Pendleton , Manchester Gorton Matthew Ferrie , Stirling Harry Vinall-Smeeth , Hornsey and Wood Green Nigel Spencer , Manchester Withington Kerry Bailes , Bristol South Phoebe Jesson , Rossendale and Darwen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair of Aberdeen University Labour Students Thomas Selig , China & SE Asia Kate le Vann , South Cambridgeshire Jawwad Mustafa , Sunderland Central Lucy Ladyman , Poplar and Limehouse Lewis Jamieson , Liverpool Wavertree Matthew Wainman , Liverpool Walton Charlotte Faulkner , Sheffield Heeley Frank Chamberlain , Liverpool Riverside Lilah Geist , Newcastle East India Rees , Manchester Gorton Rachel Brown , Leeds West Leo Holmes , Cardiff Central , Chair of Cardiff Labour Students Jobie Budd , Camberwell & Peckham Sammi Ferhaoui , Enfield North Aaron Horsley , Hull North Faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brighton Kemptown , CLP Youth Officer Ben Sadler , Twickenham Joey Frances , Gorton Rachael Morris , Warrington South James Manders , Warrington South Reema Fadda , Oxford Tom Brodrick , Worcester Dylan Woodward , Bristol West , LCF LGBT+ Officer , Councillor Candidate Conor Muller , Labour International Scott Varney , North Warks Catherine Toms , Southwark Caitlin Ridgway , Christchurch Jacob Allen , Guildford , Co-Chair , Surrey Labour Students Julia Thornhill , Workington Leslie Glass , Haverhill Jordan Hartley , Sittingbourne and Sheppey Elizabeth Oates , Harrow West Gaynor Underhill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Griffith , Harrow West Vicky MacKay , Leeds West Corinne Furness , Leeds East Liam Cosgrove , Newcastle East Abby Harrison , Wigan Patrick Garrigan , Leeds West Joe Bates , Lewisham Deptford Dan Simpson , Poplar & Limehouse Ryan Stalley , Carshalton and Wallington Arthur Duckham , Bristol West Jack Frayne-Reid , East Surrey Lucy Miles , Oxford Zacchaeus Snape , Macclesfield Vicky-Jane Gooding , Mid Sussex Geoff Taylor , Oxford West and Abingdon , Secretary , Kidlington & Yarnton BLP Oliver Fletcher , Hazel Grove Deborah Power , Hall Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack Witek , Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Amy Bruce , Cheltenham Elinor Rowe , Hackney North & Stoke Newington Julio C. Gonzalez , Oxford and District Labour Party , Branch Membership Secretary Amelia Andrews , Shetlan Daisy Stacey , Bethnal Green and Bow Emma Gell , Chelmsford Vicky Hall , Bolton South East Becky Hancox , Garston & Halewood Tyler Smith , Solihull Harry Hancox , Garston and Halewood Thomas meadows , Garston and Halewood Kiran Khan , Crawley Rachael Ward , Brent North Anna Roberts , Redruth , Camborne And Hayle Milo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxford East Sasha Baker , St Albans Nicholas Stewart , Westminster North Muireann Crowley , Edinburgh Central Lewis Pearson , Hornsey & Wood Green Laura Woodhouse , Sheffield Central Chris Spence , Newcastle-under-Lyme , Branch Secretary Matthew Sellwood , Bethnal Green & Bow Samantha J , Cardiff West Lewis Duffy , Dewsbury Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini , Oxford , BAME Officer Daniel Caie , Inverness & Nairn Adam Lismore , Gillingham and Rainham , Secretary Medway Young Labour Placida Ojinnaka , Edmonton Peter Hanley , SE Cornwall Jamie Pelling , Maidenhead Shayna Perera , Warley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxford , Ex co chair OULC Maxine Woolrich , Don Valley Sharon Thompson , Yardley , Cabinet Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods – Birmingham Ildikó Connell , Vauxhall Simone Roberts , Washington and Sunderland West Bethan Hughes , Liverpool Riverside William Carter , Labour International Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson , Cambridge Labour Party Bevan Richardson , Bristol East James Murdoch , Cannock Chase Leo Murray , Hammersmith Orla Gleeson , Bolton Kenneth Rose , Camden Kaltun Elmi , Hillsborough and Brightside George Gray , Woking Hannah Powell , Bath Aghileh Djafari Marbini , Harrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dolor , Harrow East Rachel Thomson , Glasgow Provan Sula Shepherd , South Thanet David Hooke , Islington South & Finsbury Sam Swash , Alyn & Deeside , Political Education Officer Soraya Adejare , Hackney North and Stoke Newington , Councillor John Duncan , Hendon Shelly Darwin , Ipswich , Cllr and Eastern NPF rep Vicky Clifton , Pudsey Pete McAllister , Edmonton , Branch party rep EK McAlpine , Salisbury Cherelle Malongo , East Ham Alex Greer , Wansbeck Callum Waterhouse , Torridge West Devon Jon Clay , Vauxhall , GC delegate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olalekan Odedeyi , Middlesbrough , Political Education Officer , Tees Valley Labour BAME Forum Toby Atkinson , Westmorland and Lonsdale Jack Yates , Manchester Central Eoin Burgin , Edinburgh South , Press and Communications Officer , Scottish Labour Students Emma , Bristol West Tracy Grant , Ipswich , TULO Pauline Walker , NW Durham Stuart Walker , NW Durham Adam Peggs , Hackney South and Shoreditch Daniel Deery , Stirling Bailey Ruth , Brent North Morag Innes , Glasgow Kelvin , Youth Officer and Chair of Glasgow Uni Labour Club Alex Otway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jake Marshall , Richmond ( Yorks ) Tegan Smith , Glasgow Kelvin Rebecca Wilks , Cardiff South & Penarth Mary Kate Ross , Stirling Mariam Shaaban , Stirling , Secretary of Scottish Labour Students Alexandra Wilkin , Colchester , West Branch BLP Chair , Colchester Elizabeth Garratt , Calder Valley Simone Williams , Gloucester Hatty Ruddick , Manchester Gorton Tom Miller , Brent Central Mark Catterson , Renfrewshire North and West Christopher Whittaker , Nottingham South , TULO Phillip Buck , Bradford South Patrick Howard , Central Devon , VC Campaigns Jennifer Whilby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connor Webster , Birmingham Erdington , CLP Youth Officer Emma Wolfe , Wyre Forest Zoey Box , Caerphilly Arran Benzie , Warsop ( Mansfield ) CLP Sarah Macgregor , Bracknell Eleanor Saunders , Lewisham Deptford Ewan Jobe , North Tyneside Sarah Grant , Rotherham CLP Chair Ciaran McGurdy , Withington Will Venton , Bristol South Amelia Nic Dhubhghaill , Labour Party Northern Ireland , Youth Officer Clare Reeve , West Suffolk , Women ’ s Officer & Media Officer Elliot Wilson , Bosworth , Social media officer Eli Aldridge , Brighton Pavillion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party and Uni of Sussex Labour Society Esta Norton , North East Bedfordshire Andy Lockhart , Heeley Di Hempsall , Lancaster & Fleetwood Leo Quartermain , Southend East and Rochford Lorcan Mullen , Edinburgh Northern & Leith John McGeachy , Sutton and Cheam Roshan Lal , Sheffield – Heeley Doug Wilson , Cities of London and Westminster Alfie Newman , member Steven Carver , Bethnal Green and Bow Charlotte Fraser , Finchley and Golders Green Jake Davies , Oxford East Ann-Marie Cousins , Erith & Thamesmead , Councillor Avril Alexander , Oxford East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Young Fabians BAME Advocacy Group Sarah O ’ Keefe , Norwich South Sam Badger , Weston-super-Mare Ali Avci , Oxford Janice Wadrup , Tamworth , TULO officer Bob Mumby , Grantham and Stamford , Former branch secretary and councillor candidate Tancred Lockyer , Staffordshire Moorlands Caz Lessey , East Surrey Nick Dodds , Walsall South Antonia Berelson , Hastings and Rye Dana Mills , Oxford west and Abingdon Jocelynne Annette SCUTT , Cambridge , Member , Regional Board ( Eastern Region ) Jake Rubin , Brent Central , Secretary , Brent Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bell , Glasgow Kelvin , Vice Chair Glasgow Kelvin CLP Richenda Gwilt , Canterbury Patricia Hay-Justice , South Croydon , Local ward councillor Anna Thorne , Oxford East Gabriel Starkey , Bristol West Jess Meacham , Sheffield Central David Wearing , Sevenoakes Akilah Akinola , Stretford and Urmston , CLP Chair Dave Arthur , Brighton Kemptown , Chair , East Brighton branch Christine Wilson , Somerton & Frome , Women ’ s Officer Rin Roche , Feltham & Heston Tim Hall , Sevenoaks , Vice Chair Babinder Samra , Oxford west and abingdon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erica Davis , Oxford West and Abingdon , Branch Secretary of Botley and District Ebony Ettienne , Brent central Barnaby Suttle , Hove Karen Constantine , South Thanet , Councillor at District and County Ailsa Naumann , Oxford and District Susan Thompson , SE Cambridgeshire Josephine Grahl , West Ham Sarah P O ’ Brien , South Thanet CLP Gwen Wall , Maryhill and Springburn CLP , Fundraising Officer Pam Jakeman , South Herefordshire Peter Nowland , Oxford east , Black bird Leys vice chair Tope Fisayo , Luton North Christine Hudson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Francis , Cardiff North Julie Foulger , Ellesmere Port & Neston Kieron Casey , Bradford East Phil Vellender , South Thanet Kelvin Cracknell , Ipswich CLP Michael Millar , Elmet and Rothwell , Campaigns Officer , Open Labour Shelley Grainger , Guildford , CLP Secretary , CLP Rep on SE Regional Executive Committee Selina Moore , Dulwich and West Norwood Sarah Sanford , Ipswich Emily Lewis , Sheffield Hallam Hannah Wright , East Ham Thea , Camberwell and Peckham Monique Miller , Perth , Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Angus in 2019 GE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Neill , Glasgow Cathcart CLP Sandra Barr , Stevenage , Branch Women ’ s officer David Hide , Horsham , Secretary and RB member for Sussex Hayley Rowson de Vares , West Lancashire Tom Somerville , Harrow East Will Barber Taylor , Cleethorpes Wei Ming Kam , Uxbridge and South Ruislip Melissa Pittman , Holborn and St Pancras Frances Breeveld , Ealing Southall Collette Allen , Ipswich Siobhan Mooney , Vauxhall Michael Cini , Oxford East , Chairperson of Oxford Brookes Labour Angela Perrett , Filton & Bradley Stoke , Vice Chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Youth Officer Sufyan Ahmed , Bradford West , Youth Officer Liza Barry , Plymouth Joy Boyd , Southport Jude Wanga , Islington North Sam Phillips , Vauxhall Tom Turner , East Surrey , Chair Daniel Willis , Mitcham & Morden Dawn Salter , West Worcestershire Jacob Soule , Mole Hill Will Nelson , Bury South Michael Chowdhury , South West Bedfordshire Kate Harrington , Newbury Stuart Mason , Sheffield Central Philip Matusavage , Hackney South Benj Eckford , Newcastle-upon-Tyne North Calum Macleod , Bethnal Green & Bow Georgia Mulligan , Lewisham Deptford Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chesham & Amersham Diogo Rodrigues , Hackney South Hannah-Phoebe Bowen , Hackney South and Shoreditch Nicky Brennan , Selly Oak , Councillor Sparkhill Birmingham Mike Brader , Rugby , Councillor and branch chair Ben Austwick , Lewisham Deptford Andrew Jeffery , Bridgwater & West Somerset Benjamin Mills , Sutton and Cheam John O ’ Rourke , Skipton & Ripon Rhian Jones , Tottenham Bill Innes , Dewsbury , Vice Chair Emma Blatch , Richmond Erin Muscillo , South East Cambridgeshire Yasmina Bennani , Brentford and Isleworth Dan Chester , Lancaster and Fleetwood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macclesfield Siwan Clark , Bermondsey and Old Southwark Evie Russell-Cohen , Hyde Park and Woodhouse Maggie McCutcheon , Northampton North , CLP Chair Chardine Taylor-Stone , Dulwich and West Norwood , Clare Copeland , Nottingham South , Unison delegate to Nottingham South Izzy Scott , Wallasey Niamh Corcoran , Newcastle East Frances Grahl , West Ham Claudia Murray , Tooting , BAME Officer Jackie Taylor , West Bromwich East , Association of Labour Councillors Carl Farrugia , Lewisham Deptford Emma Callacher , Weaver Vale Jen Davis , Greenwich & Woolwich Kirstin Latimer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , East Surrey Nora Casey , Edinburgh Pentlands Craig Purshouse , Manchester Gorton Phil Lindsey , Leyton & Wanstead

Almost 500 Labour members have signed a statement urging MPs and MEPs to help deputy leadership hopeful Dawn Butler make it onto the ballot paper.
The Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary has received 15 nominations from her parliamentary party colleagues so far – falling short of the 22 required to enter the next stage of Labour’s deputy leadership election.
To avoid being knocked out of the race, Butler needs seven of the 60 Labour MPs and MEPs who have not yet handed in their nominations papers to vote in her favour before the Monday deadline at 2.30pm.
Celebrating her work as an equalities advocate, “unwavering” support for Labour and “powerful” speeches, the statement currently signed by 468 members says her voice and politics should be included to “recognise the diversity of our membership”.
Current frontrunner Angela Rayner has already exceeded the threshold with 72 nominations, while Scottish MP Ian Murray is also through on 30. Richard Burgon and Rosena Allin-Khan are slightly ahead of Butler but have not yet won enough support either.
Leadership candidates must win the support of 10% of MPs and MEPs and then either 5% of local parties or three affiliate organisations including two trade unions to secure their places on the leader and deputy leader ballot papers.
Below is the full text of the statement.
We are grassroots members of the Labour Party who believe that Dawn Butler deserves to be on the deputy leadership ballot paper. Her work on liberation as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities has been fantastic, and she has been a real advocate for women, BAME people, LGBT+ people, disabled people, and particularly for trans people in the face of media and internal hostility.
She has shown unwavering support for the party all the way through, and with her powerful speeches has inspired many people to see her as a deserving candidate for the deputy leadership position.
While not all of us have decided which way we are voting, we certainly think that we, along with our fellow members, deserve a real choice in the election. Dawn’s voice, and the politics she represents, must absolutely be on the ballot paper to recognise the diversity of our membership, not just in identity but also in thought. It would be a shame for her to miss the chance to put her case forward to the membership, just because she didn’t receive the required number of nominations from a small part of our vast Labour movement.
We call on MPs and MEPs to nominate Dawn so she can reach the 22 nominations required to progress to the next stage, as well as for MPs and MEPs who have already nominated someone else to ask their fellow PLP and EPLP members to nominate her.
We also call on members and staffers who know MPs and MEPs to consider making the case to them, so we can truly represent the party in all its glory.
468 signatories:
Saranya Thambirajah, Harrow West,
Maliha Reza, North East Bedfordshire, CLP Youth Officer / LCF Representative
Ansh Bhatnagar, Slough, London Labour Students Chair
Chlöe Hopkins, Beverley and Holderness, Women’s Officer
Anisha Faruk, Oxford West & Abingdon
Stefano Vozza , Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Amen Tesfay, Enfield North, Youth coordinator
Stefan Mohamed, Filton and Bradley Stoke,
Amber Goodwin, Hull West and Hessle, CLP chair
Nassime Bizori, Liverpool Wavertree
Khaled Kiswani, Feltham and Heston
Alex Thomas, Torfaen, CWU Delegate
Emily Bagnall, Canterbury, Youth Officer Canterbury CLP, Canterbury Christchurch Student Union Labour Society President
Krissie Beadle, Hastings and Rye
Daniel Richards, Cardiff Central
Ana Oppenheim, Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Dana Byrne, Canterbury
Ben McGowan, Bromley & Chislehurst
Abby Tomlinson, Poplar and Limehouse
Beth Desmond, Brighton, Pavilion
Isla Whateley, Vauxhall
Eloise Harris, Bethnal Green and Bow CLP, Chair of Queen Mary Labour Society
Abdallah Al-Ammari, Stirling, BAME Officer, Scottish Young Labour
Jacob Armstrong, Blaydon
Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam, Brent North, Youth Officer
Joe Bailey, Weaver Vale
Benedict Lawrence, Orpington,
Milly Whibberley, Mid Derbyshire CLP
Jabu Nala-Hartley, Oxford, Council candidate
Aaron Smith, Oxford East
Patrick Jenkins, Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour for a Public Vote Organiser
Lola Fayokun, Hornchurch and Upminster, BAME Officer for LSE Labour Society, Campaigns and Membership Officer for Havering and Dagenham Young Labour
Sam Knights, Islington South and Finsbury, Youth Officer
Jenni Thorburn, Vauxhall CLP
Joseph Hamm, Loughborough
James Marsh, Truro and Falmouth, Youth Officer, FX Labour Society Secretary
Edward Williamson, Chipping Barnet
Arthur Webber, Peterborough CLP, Labour Students National Trans Officer
Aniqah Choudhri, Wythenshawe and Sale East
Neal Tank, Ealing Central and Acton
Callum Mair, Streatham
David Holderness, Cheadle CLP,
Sean Smyth, Manchester Central CLP,
Reuben Duffy, Airdrie and Shotts
William Sorenson, Oxford East
Holly Weston, Hull North
Wrenna Robson, Runnymede and Weybridge
Wayne Rhodes, Sheffield South East
James Bedford, Oldham East and Saddleworth
Mike Campbell, Walthamstow
Benjamin Smith, Isle of Wight, Youth and Students Officer
Duncan Davis, Nottingham East
Tom Gann, Chipping Barnet, Editor New Socialist
Jonathan Biggins, Nottingham South
Jamil Ismaili, Cardiff South & Penarth
Dee Stuart , Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, LGBT Officer
Kayleigh Wenham, Holgate York
Dylan James Hamilton, Grantham and Stamford
John Watson, Sheffield Central
Zac Hills, Bosworth
Luke Myer, Liverpool Riverside
C. Leech, Hackney South
Bobby Kent, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Disability Officer North West Young Labour
Joe Baker, Doncaster Central, Post grad rep UoN labour
Alena Ivanova, Bethnal Green and Bow, Women’s Forum secretary
Charlie Harrington, Runnymede & Weybridge
Kourosh Newman-Zand, Hove
Charlie Caine , Norwich North
Fabian Newton-Edgar, Leeds North East, Youth Officer
Chelsea Chadwick, City of Durham
Sinan Kose, Nottingham South, Youth Officer
Vik Chechi-Ribeiro , Withington
Joanne McEwan, Oxford
Harith Aldeghather, North East Herts
Dylan Hever Whyte, Inverness and Nairn, Youth Officer
Alex Moreland, Twickenham
Sean Leggatt-Bulaitis, Leeds West, Leeds Young Labour Secretary
Daniel Eales, Darlington
Rabyah Khan, Oxford West & Abingdon, Chair
Ali Lloyd, Edinburgh Northern & Leith
Peter Miles, Mid Worcestershire
Conor Brogan, NE Herts, LCF CHAIR
Max Holloway, Welwyn Hatfield, Councillor and Campaign Coordinator
Heather Middlehurst, St Helens South & Whiston
Charlie Turner, Lewes
Owen Emmerson, Wealden
Jay Staker, Oxford East, Labour councillor candidate
Ben Ackland, Lewes
Richard Mischook, Northern Ireland, Party Member
Jacob Richardson, Haltemprice and Howden
John Webber, Walthamstow
Oban Mackie, Bridgwater and West Somerset
Elizabeth Darbyshire-Brown, Birmingham Selly Oak
Megan Goacher, Wirral
Abigail Mattingly, Wycombe CLP, Women’s Officer
Jason Okundaye, Battersea
Bethany Edwards, Spelthorne, Communications Officer
Jenny Harrison, North Shropshire
Tom Halligan, Riverside CLP
Arielle Bennett-Lovell, Stevenage, Membership Officer
Joe Cooper, Wimbledon
Paul Trembath, Liverpool Riverside
Josh Kitto, Mitcham and Morden
Sophie Parker-Rees, East Devon
Jonathan Bagley, Sheffield Heeley
Barnaby Walker, Hammersmith
Corey Davies, Manchester Central
Graeme Tierney, Tottenham
Paul Watson, Stretford & Urmston
Sarah Dorman , Lewisham Deptford, Vice Chair Lewisham Deptford Womens forum
Blue Weiss, Hornsey and Wood Green
Joseph Razavi, Manchester Gorton
Ian D. Morris, Oxford
Lina Slim, Islington South
Valerie , Islington north CLP
Tim Broughton, Stevenage, TULO
James Grogan, Ilford North
Gary Spedding, Tynemouth CLP, Vice Chair of Tynemouth Branch Labour
Will Ako, Chingford and Wood Green
Nicki Kindersley, Cardiff North
Estella Adeyeri, Hornsey and Wood Green
Siobhán Campbell, Romford CLP
Megan Thomas, Cardiff South and Penarth , Vice Chair (Policy and Campaigns)
Kieran Glasssmith , Bristol West, TULO
Fraser Amos, Coventry North West, Warwick Labour Society Co-Chair
Jack Hancock, Salford and Eccles
Giles Walton, Vauxhall
Jenny Symmons, Bethnal Green and Bow, Campaigns Officer
James Laister-Smith, Coventry South
Will Yong , Camberwell and Peckham , Vice Chair Membership (branch), GC Delegate (CLP)
Dan Jones, Sefton Central
Samuel Burns, Chingford and Woodford Green, GC delegate
Katey Pugh, Canterbury, Political Education Officer
Tom King, Walthamstow
Patrick Rafferty, Brighton, Kemptown
Lawrence Monk, Birkenhead
Mish Rahman, Aldridge Brownhills, Aldridge Brownhills CLP Chair
Altair Seel, Stirling
Cian Ireland, Stirling, Treasurer of Stirling Labour Society
James Caruana, Cardiff South and Penarth
Jack Fielding, Bath, Acting LGBT Officer
Samir Rana, Bristol West
A. Currie, Glasgow South
Oliver Daly, Erith and Thamesmead
Moshe Mankoff, Gateshead
Teresa Clark, Lewisham West and Penge, Acting Chair, Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee (in personal capacity) CLP Secretary, Lewisham West and Penge (in personal capacity)
James Simpson, Birmingham Yardley CLP
Ian Vaudrey, South Dorset CLP
Stuart Wragg, Carlisle
Lee Starr-Elliott, Bristol South
Ellie Milne-Brown, Oxford West and Abingdon
Rebecca Whalley, Bristol West
George Cammack, Exeter, President of Exeter University Labour Society
Róisín Spencer, Lewisham East
Eden Ladley, Macclesfield
Sennen Cork, Bristol South
Billy Smith, Leeds North West
Kate Byard, Exeter
Róisín McCallion, Oxford West and Abingdon
Mark Pendleton, Manchester Gorton
Matthew Ferrie, Stirling
Harry Vinall-Smeeth, Hornsey and Wood Green
Nigel Spencer, Manchester Withington
Kerry Bailes, Bristol South
Phoebe Jesson, Rossendale and Darwen
Martin Le Brech, Aberdeen Central, Chair of Aberdeen University Labour Students
Thomas Selig, China & SE Asia
Kate le Vann, South Cambridgeshire
Jawwad Mustafa, Sunderland Central
Lucy Ladyman, Poplar and Limehouse
Lewis Jamieson, Liverpool Wavertree
Matthew Wainman, Liverpool Walton
Charlotte Faulkner, Sheffield Heeley
Frank Chamberlain, Liverpool Riverside
Lilah Geist, Newcastle East
India Rees, Manchester Gorton
Rachel Brown, Leeds West
Leo Holmes, Cardiff Central, Chair of Cardiff Labour Students
Jobie Budd, Camberwell & Peckham
Sammi Ferhaoui, Enfield North
Aaron Horsley, Hull North
Faith Romeo, Richmond Park
Ryan Bogle, Brighton Kemptown, CLP Youth Officer
Ben Sadler, Twickenham
Joey Frances, Gorton
Rachael Morris , Warrington South
James Manders, Warrington South
Reema Fadda, Oxford
Tom Brodrick, Worcester
Dylan Woodward, Bristol West, LCF LGBT+ Officer, Councillor Candidate
Conor Muller, Labour International
Scott Varney, North Warks
Catherine Toms, Southwark
Caitlin Ridgway, Christchurch
Jacob Allen, Guildford, Co-Chair, Surrey Labour Students
Julia Thornhill, Workington
Leslie Glass , Haverhill
Jordan Hartley, Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Elizabeth Oates, Harrow West
Gaynor Underhill, Wantage
Simone Strawbridge, Acton
Nathan James Griffith, Harrow West
Vicky MacKay, Leeds West
Corinne Furness, Leeds East
Liam Cosgrove , Newcastle East
Abby Harrison, Wigan
Patrick Garrigan, Leeds West
Joe Bates, Lewisham Deptford
Dan Simpson, Poplar & Limehouse
Ryan Stalley, Carshalton and Wallington
Arthur Duckham, Bristol West
Jack Frayne-Reid, East Surrey
Lucy Miles, Oxford
Zacchaeus Snape, Macclesfield
Vicky-Jane Gooding, Mid Sussex
Geoff Taylor, Oxford West and Abingdon, Secretary, Kidlington & Yarnton BLP
Oliver Fletcher, Hazel Grove
Deborah Power, Hall Green
Rachel Collett, Ellesmere Port & Neston
Jack Witek, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Amy Bruce, Cheltenham
Elinor Rowe, Hackney North & Stoke Newington
Julio C. Gonzalez, Oxford and District Labour Party, Branch Membership Secretary
Amelia Andrews, Shetlan
Daisy Stacey, Bethnal Green and Bow
Emma Gell, Chelmsford
Vicky Hall, Bolton South East
Becky Hancox, Garston & Halewood
Tyler Smith, Solihull
Harry Hancox, Garston and Halewood
Thomas meadows, Garston and Halewood
Kiran Khan, Crawley
Rachael Ward, Brent North
Anna Roberts, Redruth, Camborne And Hayle
Milo Basak, Streatham Hill
Paula Dunne, Oxford East
Sasha Baker, St Albans
Nicholas Stewart, Westminster North
Muireann Crowley, Edinburgh Central
Lewis Pearson, Hornsey & Wood Green
Laura Woodhouse, Sheffield Central
Chris Spence, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Branch Secretary
Matthew Sellwood, Bethnal Green & Bow
Samantha J, Cardiff West
Lewis Duffy, Dewsbury
Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, Oxford, BAME Officer
Daniel Caie, Inverness & Nairn
Adam Lismore, Gillingham and Rainham, Secretary Medway Young Labour
Placida Ojinnaka, Edmonton
Peter Hanley, SE Cornwall
Jamie Pelling, Maidenhead
Shayna Perera, Warley
Silas Long, Canterbury
Grace Davis , Oxford, Ex co chair OULC
Maxine Woolrich, Don Valley
Sharon Thompson , Yardley, Cabinet Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods – Birmingham
Ildikó Connell, Vauxhall
Simone Roberts, Washington and Sunderland West
Bethan Hughes, Liverpool Riverside
William Carter, Labour International
Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Cambridge Labour Party
Bevan Richardson, Bristol East
James Murdoch, Cannock Chase
Leo Murray, Hammersmith
Orla Gleeson, Bolton
Kenneth Rose, Camden
Kaltun Elmi, Hillsborough and Brightside
George Gray, Woking
Hannah Powell, Bath
Aghileh Djafari Marbini, Harrow West
Olumide Adefolaju, West Ham
Kandy Dolor, Harrow East
Rachel Thomson, Glasgow Provan
Sula Shepherd, South Thanet
David Hooke, Islington South & Finsbury
Sam Swash, Alyn & Deeside, Political Education Officer
Soraya Adejare, Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Councillor
John Duncan, Hendon
Shelly Darwin, Ipswich, Cllr and Eastern NPF rep
Vicky Clifton, Pudsey
Pete McAllister, Edmonton, Branch party rep
EK McAlpine, Salisbury
Cherelle Malongo, East Ham
Alex Greer, Wansbeck
Callum Waterhouse, Torridge West Devon
Jon Clay, Vauxhall, GC delegate, ward vice-chair
Jacob Cardwell, Gedling
Olalekan Odedeyi, Middlesbrough, Political Education Officer, Tees Valley Labour BAME Forum
Toby Atkinson, Westmorland and Lonsdale
Jack Yates, Manchester Central
Eoin Burgin, Edinburgh South, Press and Communications Officer, Scottish Labour Students
Emma, Bristol West
Tracy Grant, Ipswich, TULO
Pauline Walker, NW Durham
Stuart Walker, NW Durham
Adam Peggs, Hackney South and Shoreditch
Daniel Deery, Stirling
Bailey Ruth, Brent North
Morag Innes, Glasgow Kelvin, Youth Officer and Chair of Glasgow Uni Labour Club
Alex Otway, Hampshire North West
Julie Forshaw, Calderdale
Jake Marshall, Richmond (Yorks)
Tegan Smith, Glasgow Kelvin
Rebecca Wilks, Cardiff South & Penarth
Mary Kate Ross, Stirling
Mariam Shaaban, Stirling, Secretary of Scottish Labour Students
Alexandra Wilkin, Colchester, West Branch BLP Chair, Colchester
Elizabeth Garratt, Calder Valley
Simone Williams, Gloucester
Hatty Ruddick, Manchester Gorton
Tom Miller, Brent Central
Mark Catterson, Renfrewshire North and West
Christopher Whittaker, Nottingham South, TULO
Phillip Buck, Bradford South
Patrick Howard, Central Devon, VC Campaigns
Jennifer Whilby , Walthamstow
Lorna Roden, East Gosforth
Connor Webster, Birmingham Erdington, CLP Youth Officer
Emma Wolfe, Wyre Forest
Zoey Box, Caerphilly
Arran Benzie, Warsop (Mansfield) CLP
Sarah Macgregor, Bracknell
Eleanor Saunders, Lewisham Deptford
Ewan Jobe, North Tyneside
Sarah Grant, Rotherham CLP Chair
Ciaran McGurdy, Withington
Will Venton, Bristol South
Amelia Nic Dhubhghaill, Labour Party Northern Ireland, Youth Officer
Clare Reeve, West Suffolk, Women’s Officer & Media Officer
Elliot Wilson, Bosworth, Social media officer
Eli Aldridge, Brighton Pavillion, Secretary – Hanover and Elm Grove Labour Party and Uni of Sussex Labour Society
Esta Norton, North East Bedfordshire
Andy Lockhart, Heeley
Di Hempsall, Lancaster & Fleetwood
Leo Quartermain, Southend East and Rochford
Lorcan Mullen, Edinburgh Northern & Leith
John McGeachy, Sutton and Cheam
Roshan Lal, Sheffield – Heeley
Doug Wilson, Cities of London and Westminster
Alfie Newman, member
Steven Carver, Bethnal Green and Bow
Charlotte Fraser, Finchley and Golders Green
Jake Davies, Oxford East
Ann-Marie Cousins, Erith & Thamesmead, Councillor
Avril Alexander, Oxford East
Henry Mendoza, Tooting, Outreach Organiser, Young Fabians BAME Advocacy Group
Sarah O’Keefe, Norwich South
Sam Badger, Weston-super-Mare
Ali Avci, Oxford
Janice Wadrup, Tamworth, TULO officer
Bob Mumby, Grantham and Stamford, Former branch secretary and councillor candidate
Tancred Lockyer, Staffordshire Moorlands
Caz Lessey, East Surrey
Nick Dodds, Walsall South
Antonia Berelson, Hastings and Rye
Dana Mills, Oxford west and Abingdon
Jocelynne Annette SCUTT, Cambridge, Member, Regional Board (Eastern Region)
Jake Rubin, Brent Central , Secretary, Brent Central CLP
Ryan Farrell, South Leicestershire
Giancarlo Bell, Glasgow Kelvin, Vice Chair Glasgow Kelvin CLP
Richenda Gwilt , Canterbury
Patricia Hay-Justice, South Croydon, Local ward councillor
Anna Thorne, Oxford East
Gabriel Starkey, Bristol West
Jess Meacham, Sheffield Central
David Wearing , Sevenoakes
Akilah Akinola, Stretford and Urmston, CLP Chair
Dave Arthur, Brighton Kemptown, Chair, East Brighton branch
Christine Wilson, Somerton & Frome, Women’s Officer
Rin Roche, Feltham & Heston
Tim Hall, Sevenoaks, Vice Chair
Babinder Samra , Oxford west and abingdon
Alex Brent , Dulwich and West Norwood
Erica Davis, Oxford West and Abingdon, Branch Secretary of Botley and District
Ebony Ettienne, Brent central
Barnaby Suttle, Hove
Karen Constantine, South Thanet, Councillor at District and County
Ailsa Naumann, Oxford and District
Susan Thompson, SE Cambridgeshire
Josephine Grahl , West Ham
Sarah P O’Brien, South Thanet CLP
Gwen Wall, Maryhill and Springburn CLP, Fundraising Officer
Pam Jakeman, South Herefordshire
Peter Nowland, Oxford east, Black bird Leys vice chair
Tope Fisayo, Luton North
Christine Hudson, Thanet South
Lewis Turner, Labour International
Rose Francis, Cardiff North
Julie Foulger, Ellesmere Port & Neston
Kieron Casey, Bradford East
Phil Vellender, South Thanet
Kelvin Cracknell, Ipswich CLP
Michael Millar, Elmet and Rothwell, Campaigns Officer, Open Labour
Shelley Grainger, Guildford, CLP Secretary, CLP Rep on SE Regional Executive Committee
Selina Moore, Dulwich and West Norwood
Sarah Sanford, Ipswich
Emily Lewis, Sheffield Hallam
Hannah Wright, East Ham
Thea, Camberwell and Peckham
Monique Miller, Perth, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Angus in 2019 GE
Katie Lathan, Tottenham
Michael John O’Neill, Glasgow Cathcart CLP
Sandra Barr, Stevenage, Branch Women’s officer
David Hide, Horsham, Secretary and RB member for Sussex
Hayley Rowson de Vares, West Lancashire
Tom Somerville, Harrow East
Will Barber Taylor, Cleethorpes
Wei Ming Kam, Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Melissa Pittman, Holborn and St Pancras
Frances Breeveld, Ealing Southall
Collette Allen, Ipswich
Siobhan Mooney, Vauxhall
Michael Cini, Oxford East, Chairperson of Oxford Brookes Labour
Angela Perrett, Filton & Bradley Stoke, Vice Chair Membership
Georgie, New Forest East, Youth Officer
Sufyan Ahmed, Bradford West, Youth Officer
Liza Barry, Plymouth
Joy Boyd, Southport
Jude Wanga, Islington North
Sam Phillips, Vauxhall
Tom Turner, East Surrey, Chair
Daniel Willis, Mitcham & Morden
Dawn Salter, West Worcestershire
Jacob Soule, Mole Hill
Will Nelson, Bury South
Michael Chowdhury, South West Bedfordshire
Kate Harrington, Newbury
Stuart Mason, Sheffield Central
Philip Matusavage, Hackney South
Benj Eckford, Newcastle-upon-Tyne North
Calum Macleod, Bethnal Green & Bow
Georgia Mulligan, Lewisham Deptford
Stephen McNally, Labour International
David Gravell, Chesham & Amersham
Diogo Rodrigues , Hackney South
Hannah-Phoebe Bowen, Hackney South and Shoreditch
Nicky Brennan, Selly Oak, Councillor Sparkhill Birmingham
Mike Brader, Rugby, Councillor and branch chair
Ben Austwick, Lewisham Deptford
Andrew Jeffery, Bridgwater & West Somerset
Benjamin Mills, Sutton and Cheam
John O’Rourke, Skipton & Ripon
Rhian Jones, Tottenham
Bill Innes, Dewsbury, Vice Chair
Emma Blatch, Richmond
Erin Muscillo, South East Cambridgeshire
Yasmina Bennani, Brentford and Isleworth
Dan Chester, Lancaster and Fleetwood, Lancaster branch Vice Chair
Jen Smith, Macclesfield
Siwan Clark, Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Evie Russell-Cohen, Hyde Park and Woodhouse
Maggie McCutcheon, Northampton North, CLP Chair
Chardine Taylor-Stone, Dulwich and West Norwood,
Clare Copeland, Nottingham South, Unison delegate to Nottingham South
Izzy Scott, Wallasey
Niamh Corcoran, Newcastle East
Frances Grahl, West Ham
Claudia Murray, Tooting, BAME Officer
Jackie Taylor, West Bromwich East, Association of Labour Councillors
Carl Farrugia, Lewisham Deptford
Emma Callacher, Weaver Vale
Jen Davis, Greenwich & Woolwich
Kirstin Latimer, Tottenham
Louis Allaway, Worcester
Oliver Chamberlain, East Surrey
Nora Casey, Edinburgh Pentlands
Craig Purshouse, Manchester Gorton
Phil Lindsey, Leyton & Wanstead


labourlist--2020-01-13--Why Pete Lowe is the best mayoral candidate for the West Midlands

It is all too easy to be downhearted after the recent crushing general election defeat .
It ’ s even easier to get wholly absorbed by the heat of the leadership contest .
The new leader will , of course , be important for the party .
But any new leader will not make a significant impact on the lives of the communities we seek to represent for many months , if not years .
While this Tory government wrecks our public services and divides our communities , Labour must take control of local and regional government at every level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong Labour values to protect and rebuild our communities .
This will also put us in good stead to win the next general election .
We have council and metro mayor elections across the country in May .
The fightback begins with these elections .
Here in the West Midlands we have a crucial fight , as we have a Tory mayor with a very effective fundraising and PR machine ready to take on Labour – as he successfully did in 2017 .
Add to this that in December we lost four parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to regain ground quickly .
In the Black Country , we saw in the general election what happens when good local candidates are ignored , and instead those with ‘ friends in London ’ are imposed : we lose , and we lose badly .
To win the mayoral election , we need a candidate who has : • None No baggage that the Tories can use to attack us ; • None A strong track record in local government which will ensure that they have the ability and knowledge to deliver as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None The ability to unite the Labour Party ; • None Strong local roots and a backstory to which voters can relate .
There is only one candidate who meets the criteria above : a former nurse , long-standing trade union activist , former Dudley council leader , and previously a vice-chair of the West Midlands combined authority – Pete Lowe .
Pete was born and bred in the Black Country .
Politically , he was ‘ made in UNISON ’ .
As a trade union activist , he started the campaign that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , against a flawed PFI scheme at Russells Hall Hospital .
A strike that won the important ‘ protection to employment ’ model that thousands of NHS workers still enjoy .
As council leader , he protected the most vulnerable from the savages of central government-imposed austerity .
And in over 30 years in the Labour movement , Pete has never had to write an article to apologise for public or private comments he ’ s made , and he ’ s always made it unequivocally clear where he stands on equalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in four years ’ time , we need to win back at least six seats in the West Midlands mayoral area .
And the mayoralty provides us the opportunity to demonstrate Labour values in action , by using every lever in the devolution agreement to deliver an agenda for radical regional renewal in the West Midlands .
Pete will do this – tackling homelessness with a ‘ Homeless Bill of Rights ’ , and putting workers ’ rights and conditions at the forefront of his policy platform by launching a West Midlands living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate emergency seriously , holding a green new deal conference within his first 100 days in office .
All paths to 10 Downing Street – for whoever our new leader will be – must pass through the West Midlands .
And the best way to clear that path is to elect Pete as metro mayor .
That ’ s why I ’ m proud that UNISON is backing him to be Labour ’ s candidate .
He ’ s the real deal .
The fightback begins with Pete Lowe – he ’ s @ @ @ @

It is all too easy to be downhearted after the recent crushing general election defeat. It’s even easier to get wholly absorbed by the heat of the leadership contest. The new leader will, of course, be important for the party. But any new leader will not make a significant impact on the lives of the communities we seek to represent for many months, if not years.
While this Tory government wrecks our public services and divides our communities, Labour must take control of local and regional government at every level, to deliver an agenda centred on strong Labour values to protect and rebuild our communities. This will also put us in good stead to win the next general election.
We have council and metro mayor elections across the country in May. The fightback begins with these elections. Here in the West Midlands we have a crucial fight, as we have a Tory mayor with a very effective fundraising and PR machine ready to take on Labour – as he successfully did in 2017. Add to this that in December we lost four parliamentary seats in the area. We need to regain ground quickly.
In the Black Country, we saw in the general election what happens when good local candidates are ignored, and instead those with ‘friends in London’ are imposed: we lose, and we lose badly. To win the mayoral election, we need a candidate who has:
No baggage that the Tories can use to attack us;
Consistently demonstrated solid Labour values;
A strong track record in local government which will ensure that they have the ability and knowledge to deliver as mayor and protect our region;
The ability to unite the Labour Party;
Strong local roots and a backstory to which voters can relate.
There is only one candidate who meets the criteria above: a former nurse, long-standing trade union activist, former Dudley council leader, and previously a vice-chair of the West Midlands combined authority – Pete Lowe.
Pete was born and bred in the Black Country. Politically, he was ‘made in UNISON’. As a trade union activist, he started the campaign that led to the longest strike in NHS history, against a flawed PFI scheme at Russells Hall Hospital. A strike that won the important ‘protection to employment’ model that thousands of NHS workers still enjoy.
As council leader, he protected the most vulnerable from the savages of central government-imposed austerity. And in over 30 years in the Labour movement, Pete has never had to write an article to apologise for public or private comments he’s made, and he’s always made it unequivocally clear where he stands on equalities matters.
To win a Labour government in four years’ time, we need to win back at least six seats in the West Midlands mayoral area. And the mayoralty provides us the opportunity to demonstrate Labour values in action, by using every lever in the devolution agreement to deliver an agenda for radical regional renewal in the West Midlands.
Pete will do this – tackling homelessness with a ‘Homeless Bill of Rights’, and putting workers’ rights and conditions at the forefront of his policy platform by launching a West Midlands living wage. He will also take the climate emergency seriously, holding a green new deal conference within his first 100 days in office.
All paths to 10 Downing Street – for whoever our new leader will be – must pass through the West Midlands. And the best way to clear that path is to elect Pete as metro mayor. That’s why I’m proud that UNISON is backing him to be Labour’s candidate. He’s the real deal. The fightback begins with Pete Lowe – he’s one of us.


labourlist--2020-01-13--Could tactical nominations swing it for struggling candidates?

Those Labour MPs and MEPs who want to nominate a leadership or deputy leadership candidate but haven ’ t done so need to get their papers in before 2.30pm .
There are around 60 yet to submit their formal endorsements , which means Clive Lewis and Emily Thornberry could well reach the threshold .
It is worth remembering , however , that people like backing a winner – the frontrunners could see their numbers go up even further – and there are always some who prefer not to choose at all .
Thornberry is unlikely to benefit from a push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women through to the next stage , while Lewis is far behind on just four nominations including his own .
As he told Sky News on Sunday : “ Clearly I wish my mum could nominate me as well , that would be fantastic wouldn ’ t it ?
But it ’ s not quite in the rules.
” Keir Starmer , who is way ahead on 68 nominations , officially launched his campaign with a speech in Manchester on Saturday .
Presumably with the need for trade union support firmly in mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the birthplace of the TUC .
Doreen Laurence introduced the leadership contender , who carefully walked a thin line between ‘ continuity Corbyn ’ and Corbynscepticism , saying : “ We are not going to trash the last Labour government .
But nor are we going to trash the last four years .
Jeremy Corbyn made us the party of anti-austerity and he was right to do so.
” He also talked about violin lessons with Fatboy Slim , the question of whether he was a young Trotskyist , Scottish independence , nationalisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter Elliot in an exclusive must-read interview .
Rebecca Long-Bailey has not yet launched with a speech – her event will take place this coming Saturday – but she did participate in a listening exercise in Newcastle-under-Lyme .
She also appeared on Sophy Ridge ’ s Sunday show , emphasising the need for constitutional reform much like Clive Lewis has been doing ( though she stopped short of calling for a referendum on the royal family ) .
Long-Bailey penned an op-ed on Labour antisemitism for Jewish News and signed up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as most of the other candidates did .
She , too , is having to walk a thin line : she can not alienate her core voters , some of whom consider the antisemitism crisis to be partly motivated by Corbynscepticism , but needs to broaden her base a little , which up to a point explains the strong defence of Angela Rayner ’ s politics and their joint ticket .
Momentum ’ s fresh endorsement of both candidates will be a huge help to that endeavour , even if Lewis does think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another election underway , of course : the deputy leadership .
Only two candidates have reached the nomination threshold so far , which currently produces an all-white ballot paper .
It looks like Richard Burgon could make it to 22 today , but Dawn Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan are struggling .
Richard Corbett MEP has written a piece to encourage colleagues to nominate the latter .
Meanwhile , there is a grassroots push to get Butler – whose politics can be placed on the same point of the factional spectrum as those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There will be serious concerns raised by members about how race may have played a role in the first stage of this contest if the shadow cabinet member is excluded .
Finally , the party has released its official hustings schedule – and it has already attracted criticism from members and leadership candidates .
The timetable consists of seven events all taking place in big cities ; Yorkshire , the South East , the East Midlands and the East of England do not feature .
Starmer is submitting a complaint .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Those Labour MPs and MEPs who want to nominate a leadership or deputy leadership candidate but haven’t done so need to get their papers in before 2.30pm. There are around 60 yet to submit their formal endorsements, which means Clive Lewis and Emily Thornberry could well reach the threshold. It is worth remembering, however, that people like backing a winner – the frontrunners could see their numbers go up even further – and there are always some who prefer not to choose at all. Thornberry is unlikely to benefit from a push for diversity, as there are already women through to the next stage, while Lewis is far behind on just four nominations including his own. As he told Sky News on Sunday: “Clearly I wish my mum could nominate me as well, that would be fantastic wouldn’t it? But it’s not quite in the rules.”
Keir Starmer, who is way ahead on 68 nominations, officially launched his campaign with a speech in Manchester on Saturday. Presumably with the need for trade union support firmly in mind, he set out his case at the birthplace of the TUC. Doreen Laurence introduced the leadership contender, who carefully walked a thin line between ‘continuity Corbyn’ and Corbynscepticism, saying: “We are not going to trash the last Labour government. But nor are we going to trash the last four years. Jeremy Corbyn made us the party of anti-austerity and he was right to do so.” He also talked about violin lessons with Fatboy Slim, the question of whether he was a young Trotskyist, Scottish independence, nationalisation of key industries and more with our reporter Elliot in an exclusive must-read interview.
Rebecca Long-Bailey has not yet launched with a speech – her event will take place this coming Saturday – but she did participate in a listening exercise in Newcastle-under-Lyme. She also appeared on Sophy Ridge’s Sunday show, emphasising the need for constitutional reform much like Clive Lewis has been doing (though she stopped short of calling for a referendum on the royal family). Long-Bailey penned an op-ed on Labour antisemitism for Jewish News and signed up to the Board of Deputies’ ten pledges – as most of the other candidates did. She, too, is having to walk a thin line: she cannot alienate her core voters, some of whom consider the antisemitism crisis to be partly motivated by Corbynscepticism, but needs to broaden her base a little, which up to a point explains the strong defence of Angela Rayner’s politics and their joint ticket. Momentum’s fresh endorsement of both candidates will be a huge help to that endeavour, even if Lewis does think the process was undemocratic.
There is another election underway, of course: the deputy leadership. Only two candidates have reached the nomination threshold so far, which currently produces an all-white ballot paper. It looks like Richard Burgon could make it to 22 today, but Dawn Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan are struggling. Richard Corbett MEP has written a piece to encourage colleagues to nominate the latter. Meanwhile, there is a grassroots push to get Butler – whose politics can be placed on the same point of the factional spectrum as those of Rayner – on the ballot paper. There will be serious concerns raised by members about how race may have played a role in the first stage of this contest if the shadow cabinet member is excluded.
Finally, the party has released its official hustings schedule – and it has already attracted criticism from members and leadership candidates. The timetable consists of seven events all taking place in big cities; Yorkshire, the South East, the East Midlands and the East of England do not feature. Starmer is submitting a complaint. In the Labour Party, nothing is ever easy.


labourlist--2020-01-13--Local government is fighting for survival

As we enter 2020 , local government faces a fight for survival .
We ’ ve already suffered a decade of austerity and that looks set to continue for another five years with the Tories back in power .
Recent statistics show that councils in England are spending £7.8bn a year less on key services than they did in 2010 – a cut of £150m a week .
Since 2010 , in Tower Hamlets we ’ ve had to save £190m from our annual budget and will have to save an extra £39m by 2023 .
We are currently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s budget and each year , with more cuts and increasing demand , the choices become harder as the easier savings and efficiencies have been made .
Increasingly , councils see more pressure on statutory services like social care , and we of course still have to fund the essentials like collecting the bins .
This means less headroom to provide the non-statutory services such as libraries or youth services , which are part of the local fabric and are vitally important to our residents .
At the general election , Labour promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £7bn for social care .
This investment would have been transformational , and I wish the result had been different nationally .
We go into 2020 with uncertainty hanging over us as the Tory manifesto did not have any spending commitments for local government – other than extra money for potholes .
Councillors across the country can ’ t help but think that their budget position looks increasingly like a pothole itself .
We expect the government to introduce its so-called ‘ fair funding ’ formula in the near future which looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with high numbers of people living in poverty like Tower Hamlets .
At the heart of the problem is the fact that the government has devolved cuts , but not powers , to local government .
This suits them politically , but local services bear the brunt of austerity and the levers we have to bring in more money are limited .
Many councils welcomed us being allowed to keep our business rates as a way of making up some of the shortfall from having our grant from central government reduced .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as ‘ swings ’ : the government ’ s plan to ‘ rebase ’ the business rates growth calculation will cost my borough an estimated £12m in 2021 making our budget much more tricky to balance .
We see only a partial devolution with strings attached .
The new government has a lot in its in-tray .
In areas like social care it is local councils who have been picking up the pieces .
The government has dithered and delayed on producing a white paper on social care because it has been consumed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides little comfort to our most vulnerable residents , who are in need now .
With an ageing population , it is councils who are picking up the tab to protect our most vulnerable residents .
Councils have been able to add a council tax precept for adult social care of up to 2 % .
This simply isn ’ t enough .
On top of this , we are having to move more money from our general fund pot to protect our most vulnerable residents .
Central government should be funding this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than getting councils to plaster over the cracks .
Special educational needs services in Tower Hamlets saw a 43 % increase in demand between 2016/17 to 2018/19 , yet the funding we received from central government only increased by 5.2 % .
And this is a picture reflected across the country .
Schools already face funding pressures and , with the ‘ high needs funding block ’ allocated from the government running a deficit , neither the schools or us have any headroom to meet this demand .
The common thing which comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that austerity has meant that our partners in the NHS , our local schools and our local police have all been trying to do more for less .
When the NHS is under pressure this gets passed onto social care ; when boroughs like mine lose over 200 police officers in a decade , residents turn to us for answers .
By passing the buck central government has got us playing pass the parcel but it ’ s our residents who face the impact , as services they rely on are under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be that you can ’ t simply pass the buck to local government .
You need to properly fund councils or give us the powers and means to raise our own revenue .
With another five years of the Tories ahead , local authorities will play an even more important role in supporting residents bearing the brunt of austerity and offering them hope .

As we enter 2020, local government faces a fight for survival. We’ve already suffered a decade of austerity and that looks set to continue for another five years with the Tories back in power. Recent statistics show that councils in England are spending £7.8bn a year less on key services than they did in 2010 – a cut of £150m a week.
Since 2010, in Tower Hamlets we’ve had to save £190m from our annual budget and will have to save an extra £39m by 2023. We are currently in the process of setting the council’s budget and each year, with more cuts and increasing demand, the choices become harder as the easier savings and efficiencies have been made.
Increasingly, councils see more pressure on statutory services like social care, and we of course still have to fund the essentials like collecting the bins. This means less headroom to provide the non-statutory services such as libraries or youth services, which are part of the local fabric and are vitally important to our residents.
At the general election, Labour promised an extra £13bn for local government and £7bn for social care. This investment would have been transformational, and I wish the result had been different nationally.
We go into 2020 with uncertainty hanging over us as the Tory manifesto did not have any spending commitments for local government – other than extra money for potholes. Councillors across the country can’t help but think that their budget position looks increasingly like a pothole itself.
We expect the government to introduce its so-called ‘fair funding’ formula in the near future which looks like it would take money away from areas with high numbers of people living in poverty like Tower Hamlets.
At the heart of the problem is the fact that the government has devolved cuts, but not powers, to local government. This suits them politically, but local services bear the brunt of austerity and the levers we have to bring in more money are limited.
Many councils welcomed us being allowed to keep our business rates as a way of making up some of the shortfall from having our grant from central government reduced. However there are ‘roundabouts’ as well as ‘swings’: the government’s plan to ‘rebase’ the business rates growth calculation will cost my borough an estimated £12m in 2021 making our budget much more tricky to balance. We see only a partial devolution with strings attached.
The new government has a lot in its in-tray. In areas like social care it is local councils who have been picking up the pieces. The government has dithered and delayed on producing a white paper on social care because it has been consumed by Brexit. The lack of action provides little comfort to our most vulnerable residents, who are in need now.
With an ageing population, it is councils who are picking up the tab to protect our most vulnerable residents. Councils have been able to add a council tax precept for adult social care of up to 2%. This simply isn’t enough. On top of this, we are having to move more money from our general fund pot to protect our most vulnerable residents. Central government should be funding this through a national social care service rather than getting councils to plaster over the cracks.
Special educational needs services in Tower Hamlets saw a 43% increase in demand between 2016/17 to 2018/19, yet the funding we received from central government only increased by 5.2%. And this is a picture reflected across the country. Schools already face funding pressures and, with the ‘high needs funding block’ allocated from the government running a deficit, neither the schools or us have any headroom to meet this demand.
The common thing which comes up again and again in these examples is that austerity has meant that our partners in the NHS, our local schools and our local police have all been trying to do more for less. When the NHS is under pressure this gets passed onto social care; when boroughs like mine lose over 200 police officers in a decade, residents turn to us for answers. By passing the buck central government has got us playing pass the parcel but it’s our residents who face the impact, as services they rely on are under threat.
The message to government has to be that you can’t simply pass the buck to local government. You need to properly fund councils or give us the powers and means to raise our own revenue. With another five years of the Tories ahead, local authorities will play an even more important role in supporting residents bearing the brunt of austerity and offering them hope.


labourlist--2020-01-14--Jess Phillips picks Wes Streeting as campaign chair

Labour leadership candidate Jess Phillips has appointed Wes Streeting as parliamentary chair of her campaign , along with Melanie Onn as an ex-parliamentarian campaign chair .
Alicia Kennedy , who was until recently deputy leader Tom Watson ’ s chief of staff and once served as deputy general secretary of the party , will be Phillips ’ campaign director .
Rachel Kinnock , daughter of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock , is set to oversee visits and campaign events during the leadership campaign .
She has previously worked for Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband .
Ruth Smeeth will lead on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeremy Corbyn , who particularly spoke out against Labour ’ s handling of antisemitism , lost her Stoke-on-Trent seat at the 2019 general election .
The other key appointments are as follows : • Caroline Badley who is heading up operations • Matt Goddin is heading up the field team , supported by Steph Lloyd and Labour Students chair Rania Ramli • Francis Grove-White , formerly of the Labour Party head office and the People ’ s Vote campaign , will be leading on political strategy • Blair McDougall , who was Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Straw , former executive director of the Stronger In campaign , will act as advisors , particularly on winning again in Scotland and championing a close relationship for Britain with Europe after Brexit Unveiling her full campaign team , Phillips said : “ We now have almost three months to speak to , argue and engage as a party of almost half a million members .
I look forward to making my case to be a different sort of Labour leader – one who is honest , straight-talking and focuses on the shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Dunstable to Dundee , Canterbury to Cardiff .
“ I will spend every day of the next 11 weeks travelling the length and breadth of the country talking to Labour members , answering their questions and having an honest debate about how we transform our party into a winning force again.
” New campaign chairs Onn and Streeting added : “ We have represented different parts of the country and had different views on Brexit , but we both know Jess is the person to bring our party and our country together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can take on Boris Johnson from day one , to put forward ideas that will really transform people ’ s lives , and someone who can reach the voters Labour needs to start winning again .
Now is not the time to play it safe .
They concluded : “ Our campaign will be ambitious , bold and fearless in addressing the challenges and opportunities that face both our Party and our country in the years ahead.
” Phillips is thought unlikely to win the nomination of the one of the large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be able to enter the second stage of the leadership contest process via the affiliate route .
Instead , the Corbynsceptic Birmingham MP will have to secure nominations from 5 % of local parties across the country and beyond – a total of 33 CLPs .
This requires a strong ground operation , which her campaign team will be expected to manage .

Labour leadership candidate Jess Phillips has appointed Wes Streeting as parliamentary chair of her campaign, along with Melanie Onn as an ex-parliamentarian campaign chair.
Alicia Kennedy, who was until recently deputy leader Tom Watson’s chief of staff and once served as deputy general secretary of the party, will be Phillips’ campaign director.
Rachel Kinnock, daughter of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, is set to oversee visits and campaign events during the leadership campaign. She has previously worked for Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband.
Ruth Smeeth will lead on stakeholder engagement. The vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn, who particularly spoke out against Labour’s handling of antisemitism, lost her Stoke-on-Trent seat at the 2019 general election.
The other key appointments are as follows:
Caroline Badley who is heading up operations
Matt Goddin is heading up the field team, supported by Steph Lloyd and Labour Students chair Rania Ramli
Francis Grove-White, formerly of the Labour Party head office and the People’s Vote campaign, will be leading on political strategy
Blair McDougall, who was Chief Strategist at Better Together, and Will Straw, former executive director of the Stronger In campaign, will act as advisors, particularly on winning again in Scotland and championing a close relationship for Britain with Europe after Brexit
Unveiling her full campaign team, Phillips said: “We now have almost three months to speak to, argue and engage as a party of almost half a million members. I look forward to making my case to be a different sort of Labour leader – one who is honest, straight-talking and focuses on the shared challenges faced by communities across Britain, from Dunstable to Dundee, Canterbury to Cardiff.
“I will spend every day of the next 11 weeks travelling the length and breadth of the country talking to Labour members, answering their questions and having an honest debate about how we transform our party into a winning force again.”
New campaign chairs Onn and Streeting added: “We have represented different parts of the country and had different views on Brexit, but we both know Jess is the person to bring our party and our country together.
“We need a big personality who can take on Boris Johnson from day one, to put forward ideas that will really transform people’s lives, and someone who can reach the voters Labour needs to start winning again. Now is not the time to play it safe.”
They concluded: “Our campaign will be ambitious, bold and fearless in addressing the challenges and opportunities that face both our Party and our country in the years ahead.”
Phillips is thought unlikely to win the nomination of the one of the large Labour-affiliated unions, which means she will not be able to enter the second stage of the leadership contest process via the affiliate route.
Instead, the Corbynsceptic Birmingham MP will have to secure nominations from 5% of local parties across the country and beyond – a total of 33 CLPs. This requires a strong ground operation, which her campaign team will be expected to manage.
Rebecca Long-Bailey and Keir Starmer revealed the key figures in their campaign teams last week. Both featured people who worked on Jeremy Corbyn’s 2015 and 2016 leadership campaigns, such as Jon Lansman for Long-Bailey and Simon Fletcher for Starmer.


labourlist--2020-01-14--How each Labour deputy candidate has voted on key issues

Deputy leadership candidates Angela Rayner , Ian Murray , Rosena Allin-Khan , Dawn Butler and Richard Burgon have achieved the required nominations from MPs and MEPs to continue to the second stage of the contest .
Ahead of local party and affiliate nominations opening on Wednesday , LabourList has examined the voting records of the five contenders .
We ’ ve also included a list of how each candidate chose to cast their nomination papers in the recent Labour leadership elections of 2015 and 2016 .
Rayner and Burgon were first elected to parliament in 2015 and Murray took his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her constituency since a by-election in 2016 .
Butler first served in parliament from 2005 to 2010 , and was then re-elected again in 2015 .
During the 2015 leadership contest , interim leader Harriet Harman decided that Labour should abstain rather than vote against the government at second reading .
48 MPs defied the whip to vote against the government – it passed by 308 to 124 votes – which lowered the household welfare benefit cap .
Harman ’ s so-called “ reasoned amendment ” opposed child poverty targets and changes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no mention of changes to child tax credits and offered support to cut the household welfare cap to £20,000 per year .
It was defeated by 308 votes to 208 .
This second reading of the bill was crucial in shaping the 2015 leadership election .
All of the candidates – except Allin-Khan , who was not an MP at the time – voted against at the final legislative stage in the Commons .
December 2015 saw MPs vote for the UK to conduct airstrikes in Syria by 397 to 223 votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly ” result in the death of innocent people but gave MPs a free vote .
Allin-Khan – not an MP Burgon , against Butler , against Murray , against Rayner , against On March 23rd 2016 , the House of Commons voted to pass phase 1 of HS2 – the bit from London to the West Midlands .
Labour whipped in support of the legislation .
Allin-Khan – not and MP Burgon , for Butler , for Murray , for Rayner , for MPs voted for phase 2 of HS2 – the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – in July 2019 and the Bill passed by 263 to 17 votes .
In November 2016 , the SNP tabled a motion calling for parliamentary committees to investigate and hold to account former Prime Minister Tony Blair for misleading the House over the Iraq war .
In July 2016 , the House of Commons voted on a motion to renew Trident , the UK ’ s nuclear deterrent .
Corbyn gave Labour MPs a free vote .
On June 25th 2018 , MPs voted to approve the national policy statement which called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Labour opposed the expansion , but the leadership gave MPs a free vote on the issue .
On February 8th 2017 , MPs voted on triggering Article 50 in the third reading of the EU ( Notification of Withdrawal ) Bill , which began the process of the UK leaving the EU .
None of the deputy candidates backed Boris Johnson ’ s Withdrawal Agreement in 2019. Who did they each nominate in the 2015 leadership election ?
Allin-Khan – not an MP Burgon – Jeremy Corbyn Butler – Jeremy Corbyn Murray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burnham Which candidates nominated Owen Smith in the 2017 leadership contest ?

Deputy leadership candidates Angela Rayner, Ian Murray, Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler and Richard Burgon have achieved the required nominations from MPs and MEPs to continue to the second stage of the contest.
Ahead of local party and affiliate nominations opening on Wednesday, LabourList has examined the voting records of the five contenders.
We’ve also included a list of how each candidate chose to cast their nomination papers in the recent Labour leadership elections of 2015 and 2016.
Rayner and Burgon were first elected to parliament in 2015 and Murray took his seat in 2010. Allin-Khan has represented her constituency since a by-election in 2016. Butler first served in parliament from 2005 to 2010, and was then re-elected again in 2015.
Welfare benefit cap
During the 2015 leadership contest, interim leader Harriet Harman decided that Labour should abstain rather than vote against the government at second reading.
48 MPs defied the whip to vote against the government – it passed by 308 to 124 votes – which lowered the household welfare benefit cap.
Harman’s so-called “reasoned amendment” opposed child poverty targets and changes to employment and support allowance, but made no mention of changes to child tax credits and offered support to cut the household welfare cap to £20,000 per year. It was defeated by 308 votes to 208.
Allin-Khan – not an MP
Burgon, against
Butler, against
Murray, abstained
Rayner, abstained (abroad and paired with a Conservative MP – publicly spoke out against the bill)
This second reading of the bill was crucial in shaping the 2015 leadership election. All of the candidates – except Allin-Khan, who was not an MP at the time – voted against at the final legislative stage in the Commons.
Syria
December 2015 saw MPs vote for the UK to conduct airstrikes in Syria by 397 to 223 votes. Corbyn said the action would “almost certainly” result in the death of innocent people but gave MPs a free vote.
Allin-Khan – not an MP
Burgon, against
Butler, against
Murray, against
Rayner, against
HS2
On March 23rd 2016, the House of Commons voted to pass phase 1 of HS2 – the bit from London to the West Midlands. Labour whipped in support of the legislation.
Allin-Khan – not an MP
Burgon, for
Butler, for
Murray, for
Rayner, for
MPs voted for phase 2 of HS2 – the bit from the West Midlands to Crewe – in July 2019 and the Bill passed by 263 to 17 votes.
Allin-Khan, abstained
Burgon, abstained
Butler, for
Murray, abstained
Rayner, for
Chilcot enquiry
In November 2016, the SNP tabled a motion calling for parliamentary committees to investigate and hold to account former Prime Minister Tony Blair for misleading the House over the Iraq war.
Allin-Khan, against
Burgon, abstained
Butler, against
Murray, against
Rayner, against
Trident
In July 2016, the House of Commons voted on a motion to renew Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent. Corbyn gave Labour MPs a free vote.
Allin–Khan, for
Burgon, against
Butler, against
Murray, against
Rayner, against
Third runway at Heathrow
On June 25th 2018, MPs voted to approve the national policy statement which called for a third runway to Heathrow airport. Labour opposed the expansion, but the leadership gave MPs a free vote on the issue.
Allin-Khan, against
Burgon, against
Butler, against
Murray, abstained
Rayner, for
Brexit
On February 8th 2017, MPs voted on triggering Article 50 in the third reading of the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which began the process of the UK leaving the EU.
Allin-Khan, against
Burgon, for
Butler, against
Murray, against
Rayner, for
None of the deputy candidates backed Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement in 2019.
Who did they each nominate in the 2015 leadership election?
Allin-Khan – not an MP
Burgon – Jeremy Corbyn
Butler – Jeremy Corbyn
Murray – did not nominate
Rayner – Andy Burnham
Which candidates nominated Owen Smith in the 2017 leadership contest?
Allin-Khan
Murray
Burgon, Butler and Rayner endorsed Jeremy Corbyn.


labourlist--2020-01-14--The courage to change – why I’m backing Jess Phillips to lead

I have spent the last two years campaigning for Labour to fight for a future inside the European Union .
Remain Labour was a grassroots organisation that I set up with a simple conviction : Brexit would hit hardest those who have least .
I believed it was the responsibility of the party to stand against a project that would do most damage to our poorest communities .
Despite the best efforts of our organisation , the leadership not only failed to make a principled and consistent argument for the benefits of EU membership – it failed the communities we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2019 election , we lost the trust of the people who most needed a Labour government .
We didn ’ t lose because we were ‘ too Remain ’ ; Labour lost more votes to pro-Remain parties than pro-Leave parties in December .
We lost because there was no trust in our candidate for Prime Minister , our economic policy or in our ability to govern .
In the wake of such a devastating defeat , Labour must have the courage to change .
A small steer back to a pre-Jeremy Corbyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson ’ s majority of 80 and a Conservative lead among voters of every single social class .
We need root and branch change to be serious contenders for government .
I believe Jess Phillips is the leadership candidate who understands the scale of this challenge and is best placed to help us reconnect with the country .
I suspect that very few people doubted Corbyn ’ s sincere belief in the need for better public services and a less unequal society .
But they doubted his ability to deliver it .
Jess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credible as well as radical , as evidenced by her immediate intervention into the debate on the future of social care .
We desperately need a national care service that properly funds social care across the country , but it can ’ t come without recognition that it needs more money through the tax system .
Labour will need to be bold to meet the social and economic challenges of the next decade , but we won ’ t stand a chance if our answers are not seen as costed and deliverable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , Jess is a proud pro-European and internationalist .
She signed our Remain Labour pledge during the election campaign and was one of several Labour MPs who embraced it , despite representing a seat that voted Leave in 2016 .
Jess memorably said : “ I might lose my job , but the jobs of my constituents are more important.
” As someone who has spent a lot of time making the pro-European case over the last two years , I have no doubt that if she is elected as leader , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close relationship with the EU and a fierce critic of Johnson ’ s vision for a post-Brexit UK .
Jess is a campaigner who stands by her values and will confront injustice wherever it appears .
From a distance , I was personally struck by two contrasting moments in the last couple of years .
Firstly , standing up for LGBT-inclusive education – literally outside the gates of her local school – never taking a backward step in the face of a fierce reactionary movement .
Secondly , by bringing parliament to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names of all the victims of domestic abuse , to raise awareness and demand action .
Jess has not only pledged to speak truth to power , but she has a proud history of doing it .
She is a politician of conviction and I believe she is the leader we need to change the Labour Party , rebuild trust in the country and start the journey back to government .

I have spent the last two years campaigning for Labour to fight for a future inside the European Union. Remain Labour was a grassroots organisation that I set up with a simple conviction: Brexit would hit hardest those who have least. I believed it was the responsibility of the party to stand against a project that would do most damage to our poorest communities.
Despite the best efforts of our organisation, the leadership not only failed to make a principled and consistent argument for the benefits of EU membership – it failed the communities we were founded to represent. Culminating in the 2019 election, we lost the trust of the people who most needed a Labour government. We didn’t lose because we were ‘too Remain’; Labour lost more votes to pro-Remain parties than pro-Leave parties in December. We lost because there was no trust in our candidate for Prime Minister, our economic policy or in our ability to govern.
In the wake of such a devastating defeat, Labour must have the courage to change. A small steer back to a pre-Jeremy Corbyn era will not be enough to overturn Johnson’s majority of 80 and a Conservative lead among voters of every single social class. We need root and branch change to be serious contenders for government. I believe Jess Phillips is the leadership candidate who understands the scale of this challenge and is best placed to help us reconnect with the country.
I suspect that very few people doubted Corbyn’s sincere belief in the need for better public services and a less unequal society. But they doubted his ability to deliver it. Jess understands the need for us to be credible as well as radical, as evidenced by her immediate intervention into the debate on the future of social care. We desperately need a national care service that properly funds social care across the country, but it can’t come without recognition that it needs more money through the tax system. Labour will need to be bold to meet the social and economic challenges of the next decade, but we won’t stand a chance if our answers are not seen as costed and deliverable.
In the best traditions of the Labour Party, Jess is a proud pro-European and internationalist. She signed our Remain Labour pledge during the election campaign and was one of several Labour MPs who embraced it, despite representing a seat that voted Leave in 2016. Jess memorably said: “I might lose my job, but the jobs of my constituents are more important.” As someone who has spent a lot of time making the pro-European case over the last two years, I have no doubt that if she is elected as leader, we will have a champion for a close relationship with the EU and a fierce critic of Johnson’s vision for a post-Brexit UK.
Jess is a campaigner who stands by her values and will confront injustice wherever it appears. From a distance, I was personally struck by two contrasting moments in the last couple of years. Firstly, standing up for LGBT-inclusive education – literally outside the gates of her local school – never taking a backward step in the face of a fierce reactionary movement. Secondly, by bringing parliament to a sombre standstill by courageously reading out the names of all the victims of domestic abuse, to raise awareness and demand action.
Jess has not only pledged to speak truth to power, but she has a proud history of doing it. She is a politician of conviction and I believe she is the leader we need to change the Labour Party, rebuild trust in the country and start the journey back to government.


labourlist--2020-01-14--Labor and Meretz – a merger borne out of blind electoral panic

Israel is on its third general election in under a year , as embattled right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to break a political impasse .
One that keeps seeing him just miss out on a majority in the 120-seat Knesset – the country ’ s parliament .
Nominations for candidates in the 2020 election close at midnight on January 15th .
The run-up to this deadline always sees a frenzy of mergers and splits as parties seek to stay above the 3.25 % threshold that lets them into the Knesset under Israel ’ s proportional representation system .
3.25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Knesset ( MKs ) – 3.24 % gets you none .
For decades , Israel has had two political parties covering broadly the same spectrum that Labour covers in the UK , with both of them affiliated to the Socialist International .
The centre-left Labor Party was dominant until 1977 , played the key role in founding the state , and has deep institutional links with the powerful Israeli TUC , Histadrut .
But its reputation has never recovered from the disillusionment Israelis felt when the hope of the Oslo peace process degenerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intifada .
Its decline accelerated with the disastrous choice of Avi Gabbay , a tech entrepreneur with right-wing roots , for leader in 2017 .
The smaller , more left-wing Meretz party is now the parliamentary voice of the peace movement .
There has often been speculation about a potential merger , but it has never been achieved until this year .
Sadly , it ’ s the product not of ideological unity but of blind electoral panic .
In September ’ s general election , both parties tried to merge with new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merged with Gesher , a centrist party , and brought back its old leader from 2005-2007 , Amir Peretz , whose Moroccan roots appeal to Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin who would usually vote for the Netanyahu ’ s Likud party .
Meretz pulled off a double merger to partner in a new ‘ Democratic Union ” with former Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak , Israel ’ s most decorated war hero , and the Green Party now fronted by another ex-Labor MK , Stav Shaffir .
Both new coalitions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the vote and only six MKs , while the Democratic Union achieved 4.3 % and five representatives .
They were both squeezed to almost nothing by a two horse race between Netanyahu and a new centre block – Blue and White – led by ex-Israel defence forces chief of general staff , Benny Gantz .
Gantz had long been portrayed as the white knight whose entry into politics was expected to rejuvenate Labor .
But instead he chose a different political party , and is helping to kill Labor through tactical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party the largest .
Hence the panicked merger between Labor and Meretz , announced on January 13th by Peretz and Nitzan Horowitz , leader of Meretz .
The harsh maths is that together the two parties might get fewer aggregate votes than separately , as they stand to lose voters who are put off by one or other partner .
But they should squeak back into the Knesset .
Separately they may have got more total votes , but they also risked neither hitting the threshold and getting any seats .
The main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still only 34 , the leader of the Israeli version of the ‘ occupy ’ social justice movement in 2011 , and since then the rising star of the Israeli left .
Her tiny Green Party had no leverage in the merger negotiations ; Labor view her as a traitor for leaving them last year and Meretz aren ’ t going to prioritise her in the seat distribution over their own MKs .
Consequently , she ’ s got no place on the combined candidate list .
Like a political version of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , Israel ’ s left are destroying their most capable future leader .
The country ’ s left – the force that created the state and saw it through the tribulations of its early years – could still be the fourth largest party in the Knesset after March .
But it has been humbled into a messy and weakening merger of last resort in order to survive .

Israel is on its third general election in under a year, as embattled right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to break a political impasse. One that keeps seeing him just miss out on a majority in the 120-seat Knesset – the country’s parliament.
Nominations for candidates in the 2020 election close at midnight on January 15th. The run-up to this deadline always sees a frenzy of mergers and splits as parties seek to stay above the 3.25% threshold that lets them into the Knesset under Israel’s proportional representation system. 3.25% gets you four members of the Knesset (MKs) – 3.24% gets you none.
For decades, Israel has had two political parties covering broadly the same spectrum that Labour covers in the UK, with both of them affiliated to the Socialist International. The centre-left Labor Party was dominant until 1977, played the key role in founding the state, and has deep institutional links with the powerful Israeli TUC, Histadrut.
But its reputation has never recovered from the disillusionment Israelis felt when the hope of the Oslo peace process degenerated into the terror attacks of the second intifada. Its decline accelerated with the disastrous choice of Avi Gabbay, a tech entrepreneur with right-wing roots, for leader in 2017.
The smaller, more left-wing Meretz party is now the parliamentary voice of the peace movement. There has often been speculation about a potential merger, but it has never been achieved until this year. Sadly, it’s the product not of ideological unity but of blind electoral panic.
In September’s general election, both parties tried to merge with new allies to increase their appeal. Labor merged with Gesher, a centrist party, and brought back its old leader from 2005-2007, Amir Peretz, whose Moroccan roots appeal to Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin who would usually vote for the Netanyahu’s Likud party.
Meretz pulled off a double merger to partner in a new ‘Democratic Union’ with former Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Israel’s most decorated war hero, and the Green Party now fronted by another ex-Labor MK, Stav Shaffir.
Both new coalitions were dismal failures: Labor-Gesher got 4.8% of the vote and only six MKs, while the Democratic Union achieved 4.3% and five representatives. They were both squeezed to almost nothing by a two horse race between Netanyahu and a new centre block – Blue and White – led by ex-Israel defence forces chief of general staff, Benny Gantz.
Gantz had long been portrayed as the white knight whose entry into politics was expected to rejuvenate Labor. But instead he chose a different political party, and is helping to kill Labor through tactical voting in an attempt to make his party the largest. Hence the panicked merger between Labor and Meretz, announced on January 13th by Peretz and Nitzan Horowitz, leader of Meretz.
The harsh maths is that together the two parties might get fewer aggregate votes than separately, as they stand to lose voters who are put off by one or other partner. But they should squeak back into the Knesset. Separately they may have got more total votes, but they also risked neither hitting the threshold and getting any seats.
The main victim of this is Stav Shaffir, still only 34, the leader of the Israeli version of the ‘occupy’ social justice movement in 2011, and since then the rising star of the Israeli left. Her tiny Green Party had no leverage in the merger negotiations; Labor view her as a traitor for leaving them last year and Meretz aren’t going to prioritise her in the seat distribution over their own MKs.
Consequently, she’s got no place on the combined candidate list. Like a political version of the Roman myth in which Saturn devours his children, Israel’s left are destroying their most capable future leader.
The country’s left – the force that created the state and saw it through the tribulations of its early years – could still be the fourth largest party in the Knesset after March. But it has been humbled into a messy and weakening merger of last resort in order to survive.


labourlist--2020-01-14--Where did the leadership candidates get their MP nominations from?

Then there were five – both in Labour ’ s leadership and deputy leadership elections .
With just a handful of nominations including his own , Clive Lewis withdrew from the race only 45 minutes before the deadline .
This allowed most of his backers – Nadia Whittome , Rachael Maskell and MEP Julie Ward – to lend their nominations to Emily Thornberry instead .
( The other one , Lloyd Russell-Moyle , went to Rebecca Long-Bailey . )
The Shadow Foreign Secretary made it through in the nick of time , ultimately securing 23 nominations of which a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from MPs intending to support her campaign .
Why ?
A good number were Labour lefties who don ’ t believe that parliamentarians should exercise their veto in this process .
On the deputy side , Richard Burgon similarly scraped through shortly before the deadline .
He relied heavily on the support of new MPs ( eight of them ) and Socialist Campaign Group members , ten of whom opted for the candidate widely seen as to the left of Angela Rayner .
It must be noted that the Shadow Education Secretary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kick off a listening exercise , won a huge 88 nominations – the same as Keir Starmer for the leadership .
And members who were hoping for more diversity in the deputy race have good reason to celebrate : Dawn Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan both made it through .
But the next stage of the contest will be more challenging .
It is worth taking a look at the make-up of nominees for each candidate .
Rebecca Long-Bailey ’ s nominations feature a high proportion of 2019 intake MPs at 16 out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest were Socialist Campaign Group MPs .
You will not find any Corbynites on the nomination list of Jess Phillips , as expected , and most of her support comes from the parliamentary party ’ s core Remainers .
Lisa Nandy offers perhaps the most interesting list to look at .
Around a dozen of her backers were vocally opposed to a fresh EU referendum , as you might anticipate .
There is a mix of Labour left ( e.g .
Tony Lloyd ) and Corbynsceptic ( e.g .
Stella Creasy ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backing of a few GMB-linked MPs , including Sarah Owen who represented the trade union on Labour ’ s ruling body before being selected as a parliamentary candidate .
Over at GMB , there are big fans of Louise Haigh , who has been wisely chosen as the parliamentary chair of Nandy ’ s campaign .
During the speech at her campaign launch yesterday , the Wigan MP name-checked two affiliated unions : Unite and GMB .
If GMB does nominate Nandy rather than Starmer , it will seriously improve her chances of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming lots of members ’ second preference in the final vote .

Then there were five – both in Labour’s leadership and deputy leadership elections. With just a handful of nominations including his own, Clive Lewis withdrew from the race only 45 minutes before the deadline. This allowed most of his backers – Nadia Whittome, Rachael Maskell and MEP Julie Ward – to lend their nominations to Emily Thornberry instead. (The other one, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, went to Rebecca Long-Bailey.) The Shadow Foreign Secretary made it through in the nick of time, ultimately securing 23 nominations of which a large chunk were ‘tactical’ and not from MPs intending to support her campaign. Why? A good number were Labour lefties who don’t believe that parliamentarians should exercise their veto in this process.
On the deputy side, Richard Burgon similarly scraped through shortly before the deadline. He relied heavily on the support of new MPs (eight of them) and Socialist Campaign Group members, ten of whom opted for the candidate widely seen as to the left of Angela Rayner. It must be noted that the Shadow Education Secretary, who has penned a LabourList piece to kick off a listening exercise, won a huge 88 nominations – the same as Keir Starmer for the leadership. And members who were hoping for more diversity in the deputy race have good reason to celebrate: Dawn Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan both made it through. But the next stage of the contest will be more challenging.
It is worth taking a look at the make-up of nominees for each candidate. Rebecca Long-Bailey’s nominations feature a high proportion of 2019 intake MPs at 16 out of 33 – almost half. Most of the rest were Socialist Campaign Group MPs. You will not find any Corbynites on the nomination list of Jess Phillips, as expected, and most of her support comes from the parliamentary party’s core Remainers.
Lisa Nandy offers perhaps the most interesting list to look at. Around a dozen of her backers were vocally opposed to a fresh EU referendum, as you might anticipate. There is a mix of Labour left (e.g. Tony Lloyd) and Corbynsceptic (e.g. Stella Creasy) support. She also has the notable backing of a few GMB-linked MPs, including Sarah Owen who represented the trade union on Labour’s ruling body before being selected as a parliamentary candidate.
Over at GMB, there are big fans of Louise Haigh, who has been wisely chosen as the parliamentary chair of Nandy’s campaign. During the speech at her campaign launch yesterday, the Wigan MP name-checked two affiliated unions: Unite and GMB. If GMB does nominate Nandy rather than Starmer, it will seriously improve her chances of making it onto the ballot paper and becoming lots of members’ second preference in the final vote.