Rebecca Long-Bailey enters Labour leadership race as she says party needs 'proud socialist leader'

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Rebecca Long-Bailey has announced she is standing in the Labour leadership race.

She joins Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry in the battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

The shadow business secretary, a key ally of Mr Corbyn, said the party needs a “proud socialist leader" driven by their principles and "unwavering determination" as she officially entered the race.

In an article for Tribune magazine on Monday evening, Ms Long-Bailey said: “The election result was devastating. But with the climate crisis spiralling and the far-right on the march, we must regroup for the struggles ahead. Our task is to build a winning vision of a socialist future, and this task has never been more urgent.

Labour leadership candidates Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry

She added: "We need a proud socialist to lead the Labour Party, driven by their principles and an unwavering determination to see democratic socialism in our lifetime.

"For all of these reasons and more, I have decided to stand for election to become the next leader of our party."​

A YouGov poll of Labour members last week gave Sir Keir, the shadow Brexit secretary, a strong lead over his nearest rival Ms Long-Bailey.

Earlier Ms Long-Bailey confirmed her support for Angela Rayner, her friend and flatmate, to be deputy leader. In return, Ms Rayner said she would be supporting Ms Long-Bailey should she announce her candidacy.

The new Labour Party leader will be revealed on April 4, the party confirmed earlier.

Who will replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader?

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Labour’s ruling body has agreed on timetable for the party’s leadership race. The National Executive body met on Monday, the day before Parliament returns from its Christmas recess, to decide the rules and length of the contest and who can vote in it.

A Labour Party spokeswoman said: “Our National Executive Committee has agreed the timetable and process for the leadership and deputy leadership elections. The ballot will run from February 21 to April 2, with the results announced on Saturday April 4.

“We are by far the largest political party in the UK with well over half a million members. We want as many of our members and supporters to take part, so it has been designed to be open, fair and democratic.”

Nominations will open from MPs and MEPs on Tuesday, January 7, and will close on January 13.

Ms Phillips and Sir Keir have said the party must learn the lessons of the party’s devastating December election defeat and why many Labour seats in the Midlands and the North of England were lost to the Tories.

Ms Phillips also identified the manifesto - which pledged to bring rail, mail, water and energy into public ownership and extend the role of the state into new areas - as one of Labour's weak points.

Both Ms Phillips and Ms Nandy have said the party must work on being relevant to voters.

"People have to feel a connection with us again. People have to feel we are on their side,” Ms Phillips said.

Ms Nandy added: "People said to us, 'It's all very well promising free broadband but can you sort out the buses?' and that was the more pressing issue in their lives. It's not about whether you're radical or not it's about whether you're relevant."

Sir Keir and shadow foreign secretary Ms Thornberry, who were strong supporters of another referendum before the election, have said Labour’s focus should be on ensuring Prime Minister Boris Johnson negotiated the best economic and trade partnership with the EU.

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