News / Politics
Labour leadership contenders face party members in Bristol
Labour’s four leadership candidates faced local party members on Saturday at a hustings held at Ashton Gate.
Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey each stood behind podiums in the stadium’s largest function room, with just 40 seconds to give their answers on a large number of themes ranging from the housing crisis to biodiversity.
Hosted by Doina Cornell, the leader of Stroud District Council, the candidates made their pitches to members before the ballot deciding the new party leader opens on February 21 and closes on April 2.
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Fittingly for an event hosted at Ashton Gate, the first question was about football. Thornberry held her head in her hands admitting she did not like the sport, Nandy spoke about the sad demise of her local club Bury, Starmer recalled his trips to watch Arsenal play and Long-Bailey admitted that she was a Manchester United fan but also stressed the importance of grassroots sport.
While there was broad agreement on a number of issues, there was also disagreement.
Long-Bailey advocated open selections for members of parliament, enabling “talent in the party to rise up”, with Thornberry agreeing that “being an MP is not a job for life”.
But to some of the biggest cheers of the day, Nandy said: “The MPs that I want to get rid of are Tories, not Labour.”
Emily Thornberry is the current shadow first secretary of state and has previously held roles including shadow foreign secretary and shadow defence secretary – photo by Martin Booth
Lisa Nandy is currently shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change, and has been the MP for Wigan since 2010 – photo by Martin Booth
Sir Keir Starmer was the director of public prosecutions before entering parliament, where he wa shadow Brexit secretary from 2016 to yesterday – photo by Martin Booth
Rebecca Long-Bailey has been the MP for Salford & Eccles since 2015 and the shadow secretary of state for business, energy & industrial strategy since 2017 – photo by Martin Booth
After the leadership hustings was over, the candidates spoke to members before a second hustings for the deputy leadership position took place between Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray and Angela Rayner.
Later on Saturday afternoon, Lisa Nandy joined Marvin Rees at a new council housing development at Broomhill.
Lisa Nandy tweeted: “Straight from the Bristol hustings to catch up with @MarvinJRees – visiting the new green council homes being built by a Labour council. In town halls across the country, Labour is winning, empowering our communities and delivering real change.” Photo courtesy of Lisa Nandy
Tom Watson, former Labour deputy leader, is speaking at Waterstones at the Galleries on Monday, February 3 where he will be in conversation with Bristol24/7 Editor, Martin Booth. For tickets and more information, visit www.waterstones.com/events/downsizing-an-evening-with-tom-watson/bristol-galleries
Main photo and video by Martin Booth
Read more: New council homes built in Broomhill
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