Rebecca Long-Bailey’s campaign for the Labour leadership has received a major boost as the left-wing campaign group Momentum announced it was officially endorsing her bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.
Following the 48-hour ballot of members, the grassroots organisation said 70 per cent of respondents had voted “yes” to endorsing the shadow business secretary on a turnout of 18 per cent.
The group also announced it would also endorse the shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, for the deputy leadership role after members endorsed the decision of Momentum’s executive by 52 per cent.
Both candidates will now have access to the organisation’s database of Labour activists across the country, and benefit from its experience of campaigning in two general elections and the 2016 leadership contest.
The group’s National Coordinating Group (NCG) unanimously voted at the weekend to support Ms Long-Bailey for Labour leader, and also decided to put the decision to a vote of all members.
But the organisation attracted widespread criticism earlier this week over its ballot of members, providing just one option to supporters for both the leader and deputy leader roles and for failing to mention other candidates in the running.
“Our membership has spoken and overwhelmingly backed Rebecca Long-Bailey to be the next leader of the Labour Party and the next prime minister of the UK,” a Momentum spokesperson said on Thursday.
They added: “We will now be mobilising thousands to persuade Labour members in the coming months.”
“Rebecca is at the heart of a new and diverse generation of socialists who recognise that we cannot return to the politics of the past. She has spent the last few years pioneering the policies of the future, including a detailed plan for a Green New Deal that can revive communities that have been ignored, bring the country together and lead the world in combating the climate crisis.”
“She is an experienced, principled and inspiring candidate and our movement is proud to support her for leadership.”
Responding to the endorsement, Ms Long-Bailey said: “Momentum members alongside hundreds of thousands of other Labour members worked day and night across the country to elect a Labour government last December, knocking on millions of doors.”
“I am proud and beyond grateful to be backed by an organisation that has revolutionised how we campaign. I will deliver on the trust Momentum members have placed in me, with a plan to win the next general election and transform our country for the future.”
It comes after Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) said it would ballot its members over the unions support for either Ms Long-Bailey or Sir Keir Starmer – currently considered the frontrunner in the contest.
Manuel Cortes, the general secretary, said the union’s executive committee had decided after meeting and questioning those vying for the leadership role “that our members who pay our political levy will have the final say on who our union will nominate”.
He added: “It’s their view that either Rebecca Long-Bailey or Keir Starmer will make a great leader of our party and that Angela Rayner and Rosena Allin-Khan also cut the mustard when it comes to becoming our deputy leader”.
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