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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Saffron Otter

Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy says she would vote to scrap the monarchy in referendum on Royal Family

Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy has said she would vote to scrap the monarchy in a referendum on the Royal Family.

The Wigan MP had contrasting views to other candidates in the running to succeed Jeremy Corbyn - Sir Keir Starmer and Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey.

In a Channel 4 live debate on Monday evening (February 17), the three politicians were asked quick-fire questions by host Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

One round included a question on whether the monarchy should be abolished. All contenders deemed it a low-priority issue.

Ms Nandy said: "I'm a democrat, so I would vote to scrap it. But this is not the priority of the country."

Later she added: "I'd quite like to see Queen Meghan."

The audience laughed.

"I'd quite like to see Queen Meghan" (Channel 4)

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir responded to the question with: "No, I wouldn't. I think I'd downsize it."

While Ms Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, said: "I think we have got more important things to worry about. I wouldn't vote to abolish the monarchy."

This Friday, ballots are being sent to around 500,000 members of the Labour Party so they can begin to cast their votes as to who should be their next leader.

The winner will be revealed at a special conference on Saturday, April 4.

Members will also be voting for a deputy leader to replace Tom Watson, who stood down at the December General Election.

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